10 Home Maintenance Tasks to Do This Fall
Summer is coming to a close and fall is here! With the changing season comes beautiful leaf colors, pumpkin-everything, and cooler temps. It’s the perfect time to prepare your home for winter, and tackle some needed home maintenance. By taking a few proactive steps now, you can ensure your home remains safe, warm, and efficient all season long. Here’s a list of fall maintenance tips to help you get started.
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Fall Home Maintenance Tasks
Change Your Air Filters
We recommend changing out your furnace filter every 2-3 months to keep the air quality, and air flow, in your home efficient. But just in case you’ve missed a month, put this on your list to change out asap. Go to our shop for replacement filters if you already own one!
It’s also the perfect time to check and replace the filters in your air purifiers if you have them. If you don’t already own one, consider the Austin Air Healthmate Plus Purifier - our favorite and the one we have throughout our own home! The Healthmate Purifier removes up to 99.97% of airborne contaminants, including mold spores, and is a perfect addition to your home. As we spend more time indoors during the fall and winter, maintaining high air quality with a reliable purifier is essential for a healthier living environment.
Inspect and Clean Gutters
Remove leaves and debris from gutters to prevent clogging and potential water damage. Ensure that downspouts are directing any water away from the home. Also make sure the ground around your house is sloping away not towards it. Also, when you rake your leaves, don’t compost all of them, leave them in small piles in the back or side of your property for birds and critters to use as nests to keep warm.
Seal Windows and Doors
Another important fall home maintenance task? Sealing any drafty windows and doors. Apply weatherstripping and AFM Safecoat Caulk to seal gaps and improve energy efficiency. Plus, by sealing with caulk from AFM Safecoat, you are choosing a healthier, non-toxic product for your family's home. Also, clean them with Benefect Decon 30, it’s antimicrobial and a disinfectant.
Contact us to order caulk from AFM Safecoat!
Have Your Furnace or Heat Pump Serviced and Cleaned
Getting your furnace or heat pump/mini split serviced is a must to add to your fall home maintenance tasks if it’s not already on there! Doing so keeps your system in good health. A good schedule is to make sure ducts are sealed and cleaned every two years.It should be free from mold, debris and elevated at least 5 inches on blocks to help drain. Make sure the drain hose is not touching the ground and is at an angle. Listen to my podcast for more information. We just did this and discovered mold on the fan blades, and the test from the lab confirmed it after only 8 months since the last cleaning. Stay tuned for the best ways to maintain and clean your mini splits without chemicals that keep mold at bay.
Check Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Replace the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and test each one to ensure these important devices are working properly.
Clean the Dryer Vent and Disinfect the Washer
Lint buildup can be a huge fire hazard! Clean the dryer vent to make sure there is the proper air flow, and no clogs.
If you have a front load washer, make sure you clean your seal with Benefect Decon 30. Leave your washer door open and dry the seal after each use. You may need to get the seal replaced if the mildew or mold doesn’t come clean.
Use Natural Pest Control Methods
Fall is when pests start seeking warmth indoors. Instead of using chemical-laden pesticides, opt for natural pest control solutions like diatomaceous earth, essential oils or plants (such as peppermint or lavender) to keep unwanted critters at bay. You can also use non-toxic traps and a boric acid, sugar, water mixture for ants
Inspect Insulation
Check the attic and basement for proper insulation. Add insulation to any areas that may need it to keep your home warm and reduce energy costs. You can opt for non-toxic insulation, contact us for a list of healthy ones! Avoid spray foam insulation at all costs. If installed incorrectly, it can create new chemicals that adhere to every surface. Listen to my podcast interviewing a client who had this happen. It is also one of the biggest VOC issues we see in our lab testing results.
Check Indoor Air Quality Levels
When cooler months come, more windows and doors will be shut. This leads to potentially higher C02 levels if your home doesn’t have a fresh air ventilation system. It’s also a great time to check for humidity and VOCs. Get our favorite indoor air monitor here. If you haven’t tested your home’s air quality and think there might be something that needs to be identified or improved, grab our VOC test kit, it tests for over 500 different chemicals and we consult with you on what to do next.
If you’ve been curious about bettering your home’s indoor air quality, contact us to learn more about a heat recovery ventilation system. High levels of CO2 can affect cognitive abilities, especially in seniors and children. HRVs are ventilation devices that create better indoor air quality by continuously replacing the stale indoor air with outdoor air. Allowing for cleaner, healthier air!
Stock Up on Winter Essentials
If you live in an area that has a potential for snow - make sure you know where your snow shovels are and you stock up on emergency kits, both in your home and in your car. Now is also a great time to stock up on natural remedies as well as epsom salts, hot water bottles, cozy winter socks and slippers, wool blankets and of course organic teas.
Preparing for a Change in Seasons
As you prepare for the cozy months ahead, completing these Fall Home Maintenance tasks will help ensure that your home is safe, energy-efficient, and comfortable all season long. Taking the time to check off these essential fall home maintenance tasks now not only protects your home from potential issues but also creates a healthier living environment for you and your family. By staying proactive and mindful of both traditional and non-toxic solutions, you can enjoy the beauty of the fall season without the worry of unexpected home repairs. Embrace the changing season with a well-maintained home that’s ready to keep you warm and secure throughout the winter months.
Combat Indoor Air Pollution with These 5 Hardy Air Purifying Plants
Combat Indoor Air Pollution with These 5 Hardy Air Purifying Plants
Not everyone was born with a green thumb and a knack for taking care of houseplants. Thankfully, there are several popular plants that require very little maintenance to thrive indoors. One of the easiest and most natural ways that you can combat indoor air pollution is by purchasing several of these low maintenance houseplants and placing them in various rooms throughout your home.
Peace Lilies are easy to care for and effective at removing formaldehyde and benzene from the air.
These five plants are easy to care for and will work around the clock to help clean your home air by removing toxic pollutants:
Peace Lilies
Peace lilies are another hardy plant effective in removing formaldehyde from the air along with the chemical benzene. Benzene is commonly found in exhaust from vehicles, detergents, cigarette smoke, building materials, furniture, as well as heating and cooking systems. Exposure to small levels of benzene may cause dizziness, headaches, confusion, and unconsciousness. Benzene is also considered to be a known carcinogen.
Spider Plants
Spider plants have a reputation for being easy to maintain. They also are great at removing formaldehyde, which is one of the most commonly found indoor air pollutants. Formaldehyde is a known human carcinogen; it can cause nasal and eye irritation, increased risk of asthma and allergies, and neurological effects. It is found in numerous household products such as: paint, drywall, adhesives, cosmetics, disinfectants, wood laminate flooring and furniture, and cigarette smoke.
Snake plants
Snake plants are another low maintenance plant. They are effective in removing formaldehyde, xylene, benzene, and trichloroethylene from your indoor air. Trichloroethylene can be found in wood stains, varnishes, finishes, lubricants, adhesives, paint removers, degreasers, and cleaners. It is a known carcinogen that may cause genetic defects and central nervous system damage. Exposure to lesser amounts of this chemical may cause throat irritation, headache, nausea, dizziness, and confusion.
Bamboo palms
Bamboo palms require minimal sunlight and water but will grow larger when placed in direct sunlight. They have been proven to successfully remove formaldehyde, xylene, and trichloroethylene from the air.
Boston Ferns
Boston ferns help filter out formaldehyde and xylene from the air. Xylene is a poisonous solvent used in paints, nail polish, lacquers, adhesives, rust preventers, thinners, gasoline, Street Address and permanent magic markers. Exposure to this chemical may cause dizziness, headache, nausea, and throat irritation. Long term exposure or exposure to larger amounts can result in liver damage, unconsciousness, and respiratory failure.
Connect with us to have our Landscape Designer to order and help you design plant scapes for your indoor space with the above plants and more to purifier and beautify your air! We have an array of gorgeous pots to choose from.
If you are concerned about your air quality, contact us to schedule a test for chemicals, mold, fire, smoke or heavy metals.
Safety and Electromagnetic Fields = Location. Location. Location
Electromagnetic Fields = LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION
Is your home near the following: airport, electric power plant, a foundry, radio/tv tower, a cell tower, power lines/transformers, any industrial plants, a farm, a crematorium, hazardous waste site, a superfund site, nursery, vineyard, orchard, golf course, high traffic highways roads... you want to test your indoor air quality and electromagnetic fields and radio frequencies (wifi).
These outside elements play a bigger role in your life than you think. The golf course is green and beautiful yet they could be spraying pesticides on their grass to make it look perfectly green which blows into the air up to a mile.
Cell towers and power stations are necessary for electricity and communication but if they are too close they could have adverse health effects on your and your loved ones. Each location is different, that’s why it’s important to test first.