Fall Yard Cleanup, Part 2

Done raking, cutting and pruning as part of your fall cleanup? The work isn’t over yet.

A few critical jobs remain. Most don’t involve organic matter, though.

Your home’s exterior needs attention prior to winter’s arrival. Wrap these tasks into fall cleanup, and you’ll beat the seasonal clock in Brookfield, Elm Grove and New Berlin, WI.

• Gutters: Clogged gutters can cause big problems in winter. Water blocked from flowing can freeze, back up and create ice dams. Prevent these messy issues by cleaning gutters of leaves, branches and other debris now. Check again in a couple weeks, just in case any stragglers found their way back in.

• Downspout extensions: Make sure extensions are firmly attached to their downspouts. A disconnected extension invites trouble. Water can pool and freeze right next to a home’s foundation. If you have problems with extensions falling or being knocked off, consider drilling screws into the downspout to hold them, or set a brick on the extension’s end as an anchor.
• Water shut-offs: To prevent water from freezing in pipes, close the shutoff valves inside the home to any outside spigots. Open the spigots afterward to let excess water drain. Remove hoses; store indoors to extend their lives.
• Driveway markers: Did someone mention “snow?” Not yet, thankfully. Still, it’s far easier to get these in before the ground freezes (and you’ll need a power drill). Use markers to highlight driveway curves and corners, plus hazards such as ditches, well caps, water caps, sewer covers, fire hydrants and raised culverts.

Don’t like ladders? Afraid of what lurks in the gutter residue? GMS offers gutter cleaning services. Contact us, and you can watch from the safety of terra firma.

These jobs aren’t difficult, but can prevent expensive future problems. You see, fall cleanup is proactive – do the work now, so you don’t have to clean up messes later.