Just like that, it's now October. If the summer has passed you by in a flurry of too hot/too cold/too wet, you may be surprised to find yourself thinking about putting the heating on or sweeping up the leaves in your garden. Check out our complete guide to autumn activities to keep your garden and home looking great throughout the colder and wetter months.
Inside
Ventilate your home: Condensation can lead you into a losing battle that could last the entire winter: you heat the house, condensation forms. You open a window to let moisture out, but the room cools, and you need more heat. To break this cycle, consider installing proper ventilation or using a dehumidifier. Consult a damp specialist for tailored solutions.
Bleed your radiators: If your radiators are warm at the bottom but cooler at the top, there’s likely trapped air inside. Bleeding the radiators releases this air, improving heating efficiency immediately. You can do it yourself or consult a plumber for guidance.
Service your boiler: Schedule a professional boiler service annually to ensure it's running efficiently. If you haven’t done this year’s service, contact a gas engineer as soon as possible; you might not have missed the rush, but you should be able to find a trustworthy professional to undertake a service within the next month or two.
TIP: You may not have plans to put the heating on for a while yet, but give it a test run sooner rather than later so you can get any problems fixed before it gets cold.
Sweep your chimneys: This is another task that should be done at least once a year. Book an appointment with your local chimney sweep to keep your chimney clean and safe. It is also worth ordering logs, if you are lucky enough to have a wood burning stove or open fire. Remember to look for a mix of hard and soft wood that is well seasoned.
Outside the house
Clear gutters: While autumn leaves are beautiful, they can be a pain, clogging gutters and leading to poor drainage and potential damp issues. Hire a specialist to check and clear your gutters to prevent water damage.
Have an autumn clean: Collect fallen leaves, fruit, and storm debris from your lawn before they rot. Don’t throw this into garden waste: compost it or use it as mulch for garden beds.
The final mow: Choose a dry day to give your lawn its final cut for the year. If the grass is particularly long, trim it in two stages to avoid stressing the lawn.
Cover up: If you don’t have indoor storage, cover outdoor furniture to shield it from harsh weather. Now is also the time to clean and store summer items like barbecues or hot tubs that won’t be used during the colder months.
By spending time on these simple jobs you will be making your life much easier in the coming months. For more tips, follow Trust A Trader on Facebook or Twitter.