🍃 The end of August already? Get your home and your life in tip-top shape before the leaves fall with the help of your friends at Kenyon Noble! Keep reading for our top tips for September.
1. Prepare for layer season
The days are still warm, but the evenings have a chill to them. Break out your heavier blankets, bedding, and winter clothing and launder then accordingly. Launder your summer linens as well, and make room in your closets by using vacuum storage bags to house them again until next year.
2. Make a firewood plan
If you have a woodburning stove or fireplace, it’s time to start thinking about where your winter wood supply will come from. Are you cutting it yourself? Make sure to sharpen your axe or invest in a new one altogether from your local Kenyon Noble (don’t forget a new splitting wedge for large logs!). While you’re at it, show your chainsaw some love with regular maintenance, a sharpened chain, and new bar and chain oil. Are you purchasing it pre-cut? Get ahold of your wood supplier and place your order soon.
How about firewood storage? If you’re just stacking willy-nilly next to the house, consider building some dedicated storage with this handy log rack kit and a few 2x4s (not included in kit).
3. Speaking of firewood…
A clean chimney is a safe chimney. Make sure to get on the schedule with your local chimney maintenance company before the cold weather really comes in, or invest in a chimney cleaning kit and tackle that project yourself. While you’re up there, be sure to inspect your chimney cap and replace if necessary. A new chimney cap not only prevents water from making its way down, it’ll deter any furry friends from moving in.
4. Check Safety Devices
With smoke detectors, carbon monoxide alarms, and HVAC filters being more “out-of-sight, out-of-mind” than other home systems, it’s easy to overlook maintenance for them. Test all batteries and replace your air filters to ensure all your systems are in good working condition and are performing efficiently. Check the expiration date on your fire extinguisher and replace if needed.
5. Improve your homework station
Even if you don’t have little ones in school, we all have homework. From bills and finances to monthly planning and scheduling, an organized and tidy space will help you and your family get things done efficiently so you can get back to enjoying what’s left of this warm weather. Invest in a dry erase calendar for the whole family to reference and a bulletin board for important bills and maybe a photo or two to keep things fun and personable. Add your new organizational implements to an existing office, or to a new nook that you have marked off from your living space.
Need a good surface for paper planning? Try finding a used desk locally, and refinishing it to match your space! Check out this blog post on how to refinish used furniture and have a command center you’ll love to sit at.
6. Remove your AC units
After this sweltering summer, it’s a safe bet you can probably remove your window units at some point during the month of September. Once properly stored, you can start thinking about picking up some window film if your windows are drafty during the colder months. You may not install it this month, but when the forecast calls for a cold snap, you’ll be ready!
7. Weatherstripping is your friend
Speaking of cold snaps — if your windows and doors are older and particularly drafty, add some weatherstripping to any gaps or cracks. This will not only keep the cold out during the upcoming winter months, but could help save on your energy bills (we could all use a few extra bucks these days).
8. Update your fall wardrobe
Changing of the season also means it’s time to shift our wardrobe to accommodate the cold months ahead. Make a list of things you think you need, then take an afternoon to “shop” your closet (you never know what you forget you already have!) before heading out to purchase anything new. While you’re at it, you might as well start a donation pile for ill-fitting clothes and toss anything that is damaged or worn beyond the point of donation.
Take this opportunity to store any summer clothing in vacuum storage bags or clear plastic bins and make room in your closet for your warmer sweaters and any new pieces you’ve scored during your shopping trip.
9. Inspect your roof and gutters
Clogged gutters and downspouts can cause damage to your roof and siding if not monitored. Take a few minutes on a Sunday to clear out any existing debris to ensure things drain properly over the next couple months and avoid any costly repairs down the road. Mark your calendar for the end of October to check them again and keep your gutters and roof clog-free!
10. Evaluate your home’s insulation
Now’s the time to think about stepping up your insulation game. If you’re sick of weatherstripping and shrink wrapping your windows every year, contact your local contractor and see if you can improve your current home’s energy efficiency with new windows or spray foam insulation.
While do-it-yourself projects can be fun and fulfilling, there is always a potential for personal injury or property damage. We strongly suggest that any project beyond your abilities be left to licensed professionals such as electricians, plumbers, and carpenters. Any action you take upon the information on this website is strictly at your own risk, and we assume no responsibility or liability for the contents of this article.