Preparing Your Home for Fall and Hurricane Season
The arrival of fall and the changing of the season is slow here in the southeast, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't take the time to do a few routine checkups on your home!
Fall means something much different to all of us here in the Lowcountry than it does for our friends and family members up north! We might finally have a break in the humidity, the temperatures might finally sink below 80, and we see the return of the infamous lovebugs. Our northern friends are putting on their sweaters, watching the leaves change color, and they might be turning on the heat for the first time! They might be experiencing more rainy days than we are, but we are still dealing with something a little more dangerous as the fall weather settles in. Until November 1st, we are still dealing with hurricane season. Some of the most powerful and dangerous hurricanes have arrived in September and October. So, while we are enjoying a bit of a cool down, we still have to be on high alert. We thought we'd change directions just a bit with this blog and share some tips and ideas on how to care and ready your home for both fall and hurricane season.
Fall To Do's!
As we mentioned, fall isn't a huge drastic change for the Lowcountry. It is, however, a wonderful time of year to check in on your home a do a little maintenance. Your home saw a few changes in the spring and summer with your garden, lawn, and air conditioner running full blast. Now is a fantastic time to check in on your home after it's gone through a very hot summer and its share of storms and tropical depressions. Plus, now that it's a little cooler, doing a check-up on your home won't be such a sweaty business. There is nothing quite so hot as working around your attic in the middle of summer! Here are some tricks and tips to restore your home from the summer, be fall-ready, and get ahead of whatever the southern winter could bring!
Do a general maintenance check of your whole home, including your roof. Check the windows, the seal around your windows and doors, and check to see if your home received any damage from summer storms that you might not have caught. This might include a trip up to your roof and into your attack to catch any missing shingles, damp spots, leaks, or new drafts. Make sure to get all of these repairs taken care of as quickly as possible.
This is a great time to check your siding and insulation. If you don't feel comfortable with checking it out, call in the pros to do it for you. This is also a perfect time to give your home a thorough powerwash to get rid of everything that's built up over the last few months. Now is also a wonderful time to paint your home if that's been on your to do list!
Call in the pros to give your AC unit an inspection. I'ts been working very hard this year. Before turning it off and potentially switching to the heat, make sure it's ready for next year. While you're at it, check your HVAC system and make sure it's ready for those surprising chilly nights that like to pop up once in a while.
As the weather is getting a little cooler, the bugs will like to make moves inside with you. Make sure to plan for this change with either your exterminator or store bough remedies that can be found at places like Home Depot and Lowes. Make sure to include a termite check and check in on your termite bond.
Clean out your gutters! Dirty water and overflow from clogged gutters can cause some serious damage to your home.
Check out your sidewalk, driveway, front porch, and any other concrete or asphalt on your property. Before the temperatures change and things get very damp, take the time to fix any cracks you might find.
While you're spending time power washing and sprucing up the outside of your home, clean your porches, patios, and outdoor furniture.
Take the time to do a little check up on all of your tools and outdoor equipment like your lawnmower. Before putting them away for the season, make sure they're clean and ready for next year.
Replace or clean any filters in your furnace.
It gets very dry once the humidity goes away. If you are already using a humidifier for your home, clean them now, and change your filters. If you don't already have one, it's the time to start thinking about this addition.
Clean up and organize your spaces that have been used throughout the summer. Clean up and close the pool, organize and clean up the shed, and get your garage ready for the changing season too!
Hurricane Season
Preparing your house for the fall runs hand in hand with a lot of hurricane prep. Keeping up with the repairs we listed above can help your home last through bad storms and keep you and your family safer and prepared for what could potentially be coming. While you're physically preparing your home, make sure to have a plan for you and your family for both situations if you plan on staying or evacuating. This includes an evacuation route, being stocked up at home, and potentially facing flooding and other damage.
Test your generator and make sure you have enough gasoline on hand to help power through.
Make sure your carport, garages, attached porches, and patios are secured and ready to face any bad storm.
On top of your fall roof inspection, consider sealing your roof or even adding roof straps. This can be done during or after construction. Your home might already have them, but make sure to check before its too late.
Sealing your doors and windows help for the change in the weather, and can be a huge help against a hurricane.
While you're cleaning up from your summer activities, clear your yard of any extra furniture or adornments. When bad weather is coming, you want as little as possible outside and as little to clean up when you go into preparation mode.
Trim all of your trees and shrubbery. This is a good practice for the season and to make sure dead limbs or poorly rooted plants don't come loose and come crashing through windows, doors, or your roof.
Make sure to have proper protection for your windows. Hurricane windows or shutters are a great start. Custom plywood covers or canvas coverings are also good options. When you purchase a house in the area, a lot of the time they already come with covers. Make sure you have something in place to provide protection.
Check the foundation of your home. Do a routine check yourself or have a professional come in and check for any cracks or stress.
Prepare for flooding. Make sure you have sandbags on hand or easy access to them to help with any potential flooding.
Are you ready for what fall and the rest of the hurricane season might bring our way? Don't panic if you haven't started to prepare yet, the best time to start is right now. We hope this guide gives you a good place to start, and you and your family stay safe and enjoy the Lowcountry in the fall!