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As the clock turns: Homeowner's autumn
checklist
 (NC)-Forget the weatherman - we know the warm season is
over when we turn back our clocks for standard time. Mornings are dark and
colder, and winter's just around the corner. Protect your investment in your
home and garden now -make those important repairs before the snow flies!
1. Your roof and fences: Clear leaves and debris from
gutters and downspouts; if a clog forces melting ice back against the
shingles, it could cause an ice dam - a serious hazard to your roof. Look
for loose or broken shingles or damaged vents on the roof while you're at
it. Check your chimney for loose brick or crumbling mortar, which is harder
to repair once it gets colder. Remember - always have a strong adult to
steady the ladder for the person on the roof. Now is also the time to repair
fences, lattices, or trellises.
2. Yard and garden tools: First, remove any dirt with a
wire brush or the wire whisk attachment on a power drill. Sharpen blunted
tools like hoe's, spades, pruners, loppers and saws, and check them for any
loose screws or nuts. Finally, spray any metal parts and cutting edges with
a penetrating oil like WD-40. And wipe wooden handles with boiled linseed
oil to prevent cracking and drying.
3. Power tools: Change the oil and sparkplugs of any
equipment, and have blades sharpened. (This can be done professionally.)
4. Hoses and irrigation systems: Straighten and drain
your hose, and store it in a loose coil or on a reel - not hanging from a
nail. Don't leave an opportunity for water to enter the hose over the winter
months. Blow out the lines of your irrigation system to ensure that ice
can't split and break the waterlines below ground. Turn off any outside taps
at source, then drain them at the faucet.
5. Wheelbarrows, carts and wagons: Touch up any paint
chips and treat any rust spots. Spray wheels with oil to keep them running
smoothly.
6. Outdoor lights: Replace bulbs and ensure that switches
and timers are adjusted for the shorter daylight hours.
Found major repairs that you should have done before the
winter? A mortgage consultant, like one of the 800 plus Mortgage
Intelligence consultants across the country, can outline how to use the
equity in your home to get the money you need, at today's attractive
mortgage rates.
Information provided by Mortgage Intelligence. For more
information: www.mortgageintelligence.ca or 1-877-308-4892.
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