By Ash Jimenez, September 22, 2023
Here are 5 things you need to do to get your home ready for fall.
Hi, I’m Ash Jimenez, Maintenance Manager and General Contractor for the Living Room Fixer’s maintenance team.
As the weather begins to cool down this is the perfect time to get your home ready for the upcoming start to the rainy season. With that in mind I’m here with 5 tips to help you get you ready for a snug and dry fall season.
1.Clean out those gutters!
Did you know that a whopping 90% of water intrusion in basements is caused by faulty downspouts and clogged gutters? Yikes! But don’t worry, we’ve got the scoop on how to prevent this. Taking care of your gutters is a crucial part of home maintenance that can save you from leaky roofs, water damage, and even the dreaded mold. You’ll thank yourself later when you’re relaxing inside, warm and worry-free.
2. Disconnect Garden Hoses and Insulate Bibs
Leaving water in your hose can lead to some unfortunate mishaps, and we definitely want to avoid that. When the cold weather hits, frozen water can expand and cause your hoses to crack, leaving you with a leaky mess come spring. How do you avoid that?
First things first, make sure to close the shut-off valves for your bibbs inside your home to prevent freezing. Now, here’s the counter-intuitive part: open all of the hose bibbs and keep them that way for the season. By doing this, any remaining water can easily drain out, preventing any freezing-related headaches when the temps drop.
3. Check On Your Furnace
It’s a fantastic time to take care of your home’s heating and air quality. Consider installing a new furnace filter and giving your furnace a quick check-up to ensure everything is in tip-top shape. Trust me, you wouldn’t want to experience a freezing day with a non-functional furnace! On top of that, doing some vent cleaning right now will keep the air in your home fresh and clean. It’s a win-win for the comfort and well-being of both you and your home.
4. Keep Out The Cold
It’s time to give your windows some love and care. First, let’s throw those windows wide open and clear out any pesky dirt, sand, or dust from the tracks. A quick clean will do wonders! And here’s a pro tip: make sure to lock the windows afterward, as they work their best when they’re locked.
Next up, let’s check for any sneaky drafts or gaps in the windows. If you find any, simply replace any weatherstripping that needs it and re-caulk where necessary. Your windows, and your bank account, will thank you, as you enjoy a cozier and more energy-efficient home.
5. Replace Smoke Detector Batteries
Remember, it’s essential to check the batteries in these life-saving devices once a month, be sure to replace them as needed and keep in mind the expiration date of the unit. This simple habit ensures they’re always ready to alert you in case of any emergencies.
Call Us Today!
The Living Room Fixers are a full service Maintenance team that can assist you with any of these services and many, many more. If you have any questions at all, call us today, chances are we can fix it.
Ash Jimenez
Maintenance Manager, Licensed Contractor in OR
She/Her
From as early on as I can remember I was climbing trees, keeping up with my brothers and had an insatiable curiosity for knowledge and skills. As the baby of the family, and a girl at that, I have always wanted to occupy spaces that I was told weren't for me. Born a stubborn and wily girl I had no choice but choose a non-traditional path. Several years ago I attended Oregon Tradeswomen to start the journey. I completed the rigorous 7 week pre-apprenticeship program and went on to start building my tool library and developing skills at REACH Community Development. Little did I know that I would really enjoy the property management aspect as well. I LOVE helping others! Every day I went to work I was able to help residents; I got to be a hero after every repair. While I enjoyed what I was doing at REACH and the communities I was able to serve, I had more work to do. I was given a full scholarship to PCC and started the welding program, specializing in TIG. I landed a job with a small fab company and honed my welding skills, fabricating retail fixtures for NIKE and Adidas. I was the only woman who worked at the shop. Imagine my delight in coming to LRPM, which is a team of rad ladies!
When I wasn't welding, painting or fixing things, we were planning our wedding. I got hitched in June at Cape Perpetua on the coast and we couldn't be more excited about our upcoming honeymoon in Spain this April. I've been in Portland for over 8 years and know that this is where I call home. You can often find me teaching a class or two a month for Girls Build empowering other strong, wily and stubborn girls, volunteering with Oregon Tradeswomen, trying the newest restaurant, listening to records with my cat, dreaming up the next overseas adventure, or making food for friends. I am so lucky to call this city home and thrilled to be working for a company like Living Room that reflects my values.
CCB# 231017
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- T: 503-830-1490
- ash@livingroomrentals.com
