8 Fall Chores You Can't Afford to Ignore
Do these maintenance tasks now and reap the rewards
Do these maintenance tasks now and see the benefits later...
Fall is the best time to get your house in order because come winter, small problems can turn into expensive nightmares. Consumer Reports’ money-saving checklist covers many things, including your yard and your furnace. And many of these fall chores cost little more than time and effort.
“A little bit of preventive maintenance now will avoid big hassles in the future,” says John Galeotafiore, who oversees CR’s testing of outdoor power equipment and other home gear. The following tips can save you thousands of dollars in repair costs.
Outdoor Chores With Immediate Payoff
Once the winter freeze-thaw cycle kicks in, a tiny leak in your roof can turn into a crevasse—and a $10,000-plus repair job. Clogged gutters and dribbling spigots can also do a lot of damage, so take advantage of the cooler weather to do home and yard repairs and spruce-ups.
Get Some Leaf Relief
Fallen leaves can kill grass when they’re matted down by snow later in the year.. Leaf piles can also attract rodents. But using leaf bags means work, and waste if they go into a landfill.
What to do: Make use of your lawn mower’s mulching mode. Ground-up leaves feed your lawn and save money. You might need to make a few passes to slice the leaves small enough to decay.
What you save: Along with saving the cost of leaf bags (Americans spend millions of dollars a year on them), you sidestep the back-breaking stooping and bending of raking and bagging.
Check the Roof
Leaks can eventually damage the wood sheathing and rafters below your shingles, leading to thousands of dollars in repairs.
What to do: Use binoculars to spot cracked, curled, or missing shingles safely from the ground. Consider having a roofing pro check flashing around chimneys, skylights, and roof valleys for leaks, and the rubber boots near vents for cracks that can let moisture seep in.
What you save: At roughly $3 per square foot installed, new sheathing would total $6,900 for a 2,300-square-foot house if you had to replace all of it. Figure on an additional $7,000 to $10,000 to install new shingles, plus added costs if the roof rafters need replacing.
Clear Gutter Clogs
Gutters stuffed with leaves, pine needles, and other debris can let water spill over the side, pool around your home’s foundation, and seep inside. Water that freezes in gutters can force snow and ice into roof shingles, causing damage and leaks.
What to do: Consider a gutter-guard system to keep debris out and water in. Make sure that gutter drains extend 5 feet from the house—and that soil slopes away from the foundation 1 inch per foot for 6 feet or more.
What you save: It costs about $300 per year for a pro to clean gutters in the fall and spring. That might be worth it rather than risking a fall off a ladder if you do the job yourself.
Close Your Hoses
Pipes can burst when water inside expands as it freezes, creating an expensive mess in your home.
What to do: Shut off inside valves that control water flow to hose spigots. Then briefly open the spigots to drain any leftover water in pipes and hoses. Also drain water from supply lines for water sprinklers and pools, and shut off inside valves that control them. And help prevent freezing by insulating pipes in unheated areas.
What you save: Thousands of dollars in plumbing repairs and water damage, especially if pipes burst and cause a flood while you’re away.
Inside Jobs That Will Save You Money
If your house is drafty and your furnace needs maintenance, you’ll be paying more to keep warm this winter than you have to. With a little caulk and some elbow grease you can tighten the building envelope of your home. Your furnace is less likely to fail on a cold day if you do some quick maintenance now.
Automate Energy Savings
Simply lowering temperatures by 10° F to 15° F while you’re at work or asleep can trim 15 percent from your heating bill.
What to do: You can lower temperatures manually on any thermostat or install a programmable thermostat (about $40 to $250) to do it for you.
What you save: Setting temperatures back can save you up to $100 per year, based on average heating costs. That’s $500 in your pocket after just five years.
Plug the Leaks
The swiftest savings come from sealing air leaks in your home’s walls, windows, and especially its ductwork.
What to do: Sealing and insulating your home’s air ducts are jobs best left to a professional. But you can use a combination of caulk, foam board, expandable sealant, and weather stripping to plug leaks around windows, doors, electrical outlets, and other openings in your home.
What you save: Plugging leaks could lower your annual heating and cooling bills by $400.
Replace Furnace Filters
A dirty filter reduces heat and airflow, which can lead to expensive repairs.
What to do: Check the air filter in the furnace or heat pump each month. And have a pro check the system annually (about $120), tightening electrical connections, lubricating moving parts, and checking drains, controls, and connections for oil and gas systems.
What you save: About $200 to $300 or more for service calls and repairs, plus the discomfort and risk of frozen pipes if your home’s heating system shuts off.
Clean Your Chimney
A wood-burning fireplace or stove may be cozy, but creosote buildup can impede the flow of smoke and cause chimney fires and carbon-monoxide poisoning. And even unused chimneys can develop cracks that weaken the structure.
What to do: If your chimney hasn’t had a recent inspection, now’s the time. Figure on roughly $150 to $300 for an inspection and a sweep. Go to csia.org for industry-certified chimney sweeps and check bbb.org for complaints.
What you save: Up to $5,000 if the chimney flue liner cracks; thousands more if there’s a fire.
SOURCE: Consumer Reports
A Delicious Taco Night Upgrade!
The school year is in full swing, and with it comes the daily challenge: what to pack for lunch? If you're tired of uneaten sandwiches and sad-looking fruit, you're not alone! Packing engaging and nutritious lunches can feel like a daunting task, but it doesn't have to be. With a little creativity and some smart strategies, you can transform lunchtime from a chore into a highlight of your child's day. The secret to a successful school lunch lies in a few key areas: making it appealing, keeping it fresh, and ensuring it's easy for kids to eat independently. Think beyond the basic sandwich and consider incorporating a variety of textures, colors, and flavors. Bento-style boxes or compartmentalized containers are fantastic for offering a mix of small, exciting bites. We've put together some fantastic, kid-approved lunch ideas that are designed to be fun, fast, and fridge-friendly. These options aim to entice even the pickiest eaters and might even spark a little "lunch envy" among their classmates! Lunchbox Bragging Rights: Fun Lunch Ideas Kids Actually Eat (and Other Kids Might Envy) list for parents: Mini Pizza Lunchables (but cooler): Empower your child to assemble their own mini pizzas with pita rounds, marinara, cheese, and toppings. Dino Nugget Charcuterie: A playful take on a classic, featuring warm nuggets, veggies, and dip. Wafflewich: A sweet and satisfying breakfast-for-lunch option with toaster waffles, nut butter, and fruit. Snacky Bento Box: A customizable selection of cheese, crackers, fruit, deli meat, and a small treat for a balanced and fun meal. Deconstructed Taco Day: All the components for a DIY taco, kept separate and ready to assemble. PB&J Sushi: A fun and easy twist on the classic peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Egg-cellent Protein Pack: A protein-packed option with hard-boiled eggs, hummus, and crunchy dippers. Lunch Packing Pro Tips to Make Your Life Easier: Compartmentalize with Color: Use silicone muffin cups to separate items and add a pop of color to the lunchbox. This prevents sogginess and makes the lunch visually appealing. Freeze for Freshness (and Function!): Freeze yogurt tubes or juice boxes overnight. They'll act as eco-friendly ice packs, keeping food cool until lunchtime, and will be perfectly thawed by the time your child is ready to eat. Cookie Cutter Fun: Use cookie cutters to transform ordinary sandwiches, cheese slices, or fruit into fun shapes like animals or silly faces. This simple trick makes lunch instantly more exciting! Add a Personal Touch: Slip in a sweet note, a funny joke, or a small drawing to remind your child you're thinking of them. These little gestures can brighten their day and make lunchtime extra special. By incorporating these creative ideas and simple tips, you can turn school lunch packing into a fun and rewarding experience for both you and your child. You can do them on your own for a daily lunchtime surprise, or let your kids get into the fun with you! Say goodbye to uneaten lunches and hello to happy, fueled-up learners!
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