April 24, 2023
As I sit here writing this, fall is upon us. We just had the first official day of fall last week and today there is a slight bite in the air. We did have some crazy California weather earlier this week and had a major heat wave here in the Bay Area. It was upper 90s and didn’t seem to cool off even at night. You know those hot summer nights that are just awful to the point where you can’t sleep? It was like that at the end of September and officially in fall. The cooler weather today was beyond welcomed. Anyway, I’m rambling, my point is that fall is upon us. It’s also what we fondly call here in CA as wildfire season. We’ve had horrible wildfires the past several years throughout the entire state. From Santa Rosa, to Paradise, to Malibu, they seem to get worse each year with no end in sight. It has insurance companies and state legislators alike scrambling to come up with solutions to try and at least do the best they can to prevent this from happening as badly as it has the past couple of years. One thing I will say, it’s time to do some fall cleaning and fall maintenance around your house. My wife Laurel and I have started and I just want to share some tips to keep your home safe. While this won’t eliminate your chance of getting caught in a wild fire, it’ll at least keep you home on the safer side.
1: Check windows and doors.
Take a lap or two around your house and check out your windows and doors. Look for anything that may not look secure. This can be cracks, leaks, chipped paint, anything that can cause air to come in through your window sills and door frames. Get those sealed up ASAP and it could also help you save on your electricity bill! That’s an added bonus.
2: Clean Heating and A/C Units
This is something you should do periodically throughout the year. If you haven’t, now is a great time do it. Get a professional out to your house and have them inspect and do a thorough cleaning of your heating and A/C units. This will help you and your family remain safe from anything toxic and it’ll also improve the longestivty of your heating and A/C units. They’ll also function better, so when you have those horribly hot nights you can sleep peacefully in the comfort of your 65 degree home.
3: Check out the fireplace
As fall comes into full swing and the nights cool off, snuggling up next to the fireplace can be heaven on earth. Especially on a rainy day with a hot cup of coffee or cocoa and a good book. Give it a test run and make sure it’s functioning properly, and have it cleaned periodically too. It’s a controlled fire in your house after all.
4: Clean your water heater
This is something that a lot of people don’t do, and you’d be shocked at how many clients I have call me on a regular basis because of a water heater leak or even worse a water heater bursting. You can clean your water heater by simply draining it. It’s easy and now is the good time to do it.
5: The dreaded task- cleaning out the garage
I know I know, it’s the worst chore of them all. The dreaded cleaning out the garage. Your spouse nags you about it and what happens? You put it off and it just gets worse and worse until it becomes an insurmountable mountain of who knows what. When I used to complain about a huge overwhelming project my dad used to say, how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. Just knock it out little by little and get that garage organized. Clutter can be a major fire hazard, especially if you have gas unused lawn equipment in there. Make sure that is all stored properly because not only can it potentially ruin the equipment, it can be a major hazard.
6: Check that roof (before the Christmas lights go up)
Time seems to fly by faster and faster each year. Before we know it, winter is going to be here (cue up winter is coming line in best Game of Thrones voice). In all seriousness, as winter approaches, your roof is exposed to risks. Take a look at your roof, even if it’s from the ground and give it a good inspection. Check for any missing shingles, holes, cracks etc. Also get the gloves out and clean out those gutters! Get rid of leaves, sticks, and any other debris because that can lead to clogs and some major water damage. That’s no fun especially as your family visits during the holidays.
7: Protect the hose
This may not be as much of a concern in the Bay Area but can definitely be relevant to those of you living in places where it gets super cold during the winter. To keep your garden hose from freezing, cracking or exploding, empty it completely and disconnect it from the faucet when you aren’t using it. Moving it inside to a garage or shed is a bonus. Make sure it’s prime and ready to go when spring comes around.
So, there you have it, seven simple steps to make your home (as close to) invincible. Make a game out of it, throw on some music and make it a family project or activity. I always have the best feeling of accomplishment and pride when I knock out a home project of some kind. Even if it’s something small. Don’t put it off and you’ll be in better shape than most if something were to happen. Happy fall everyone!