Hot town, summer in the city;
Back of my neck getting dirty and gritty
Been down, isn’t it a pity
Doesn’t seem to be a shadow in the city.
- Lyrics from Summer in the City, written and performed by The Lovin Spoonful, 1966
Sadly, summer has left our fair city; it’s pure fall town now and homeowners have a ton of home maintenance projects pending to get ready for winter town. The dirty and gritty part of fall town is dealing with your filthy furnace filter, nasty old appliances and other fall and winter home maintenance musts, the topic of this week’s blog.
Use raked leaves for mulching
Don’t ignore falling leaves in your yard. Get out the rake and scoop the leaves off of your grass to prevent damage to your lawn. Raked leaves can go in the yard bin, or even better, use them for mulch for your flower beds and garden!
Winterize your water lines
Disconnect and put your hoses away to keep them in good condition for next year. Turn off the water to outdoor taps to make sure they don’t freeze over the winter, causing damage to your pipes. This is a simple step to take for homeowners that can save huge headaches and repair bills.
Install a programmable thermostat
Installing a programmable thermostat can make a big difference in energy savings and how much you’ll pay for heat over the winter months. Even turning the heat down by one or two degrees at night can make an impact and will reduce your carbon footprint.
Smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors can be recycled
It’s a fall tradition to check and replace batteries for smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. These devices can save lives in the case of a house fire or carbon monoxide leak. If your detectors are broken, check Costco for an affordable replacement and don’t forget to recycle the old ones. London Drugs is one location that accepts smoke alarms for recycling; check Metro Vancouver Recycles for other options.
Fortis rebates for furnace maintenance
Fortis recommends annual servicing of your natural gas appliances to make sure they are operating safely and efficiently. Take advantage of the gas appliance maintenance rebate program by having your furnace, gas fireplace, or tankless water heater maintenance visit completed by November 30. You’ll receive a $25 rebate for furnace maintenance, $25 for up to two gas fireplace maintenance fees, $50 for your tankless water heater, and a $10 bonus for your online application.
Reuse and recycle old appliances
With rock bottom Black Friday deals coming up this fall, many homeowners will be replacing their old household appliances with new ones. Both small and large appliances can be recycled or reused instead of being disposed of in a landfill. Visit Metro Vancouver Recycles for recycling options in your local community.
Green Coast Rubbish fall cleanup service
Call in the experts from Green Coast Rubbish to help you with your fall home and garden cleanup. We will divert the materials we pick up away from the landfill through reuse and recycling programs, and by working with deserving organizations like Habitat for Humanity. We’re fast, we’re affordable, and we’ll rock your fall cleanup while protecting the environment! Give us a call at 604.230.4530 or email pickup@www.greencoastrubbish.com.
