With the start of Fall yesterday, we start another great season of Florida's great weather. With luck on our side given these past few tropical depressions and hurricanes missing us we begin to enjoy more cooler weather and hopefully less rain, although hurricane season officially runs until the end of November.
This current Hurricane season, to date, has had 13 Tropical Depressions, 12 Storms, 4 Hurricanes, and 2 (Cat 3+) Major Hurricanes, with Hurricane Dorian being the strongest.
Aside from prepping your home for a Hurricane, you should begin to prep your home for the Fall Season. So maintaining your gutters from the rain is still suggested, but now we have to watch out for any foliage getting in the gutters. Any clogging that can occur on your gutters could damage not only the gutter itself, but also could cause leaks into your home. Make sure your doors and windows are tightly sealed to keep him from nipping at your nose. A simple sheet of paper can help you test for drafts: close a door or window on a piece of paper; if the paper slides easily, you need to add some weather stripping or caulk to seal the gaps.
With the some of the major Holidays being in the Fall Season, we need to be on the aware for fire hazards and have safety in mind. Many like to celebrate Halloween, Thanksgiving, and even Christmas with some decorations. Just be mindful of where you're placing the decorations and follow general safety standards on plugging your lights or decorations away from water and other safety hazards. You should also test your Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors Replace the batteries and test by pressing the test button.
Not many of us think of this, but you should at least have a fire-extinguisher in your home just in case. Make sure it’s rated for all fire types (look for an A-B-C rating). Review the indicator on the pressure gauge to make sure the extinguisher is charged. Ensure that the lock pin is firmly in place and that the discharge nozzle is not clogged. Fire extinguishers should be replaced every six years, so purchasing one could save your home in the long run!
Some homes may have a fireplace. If you are one of these home owners with a fireplace and wish to use it during our "really cold winter months" check the chimney and flue for soot or creosote (a flammable by-product of burning wood) build-up. Check the flue for blockage and use a chimney to cap to prevent birds of a feather from flocking together (and building nests) at the top of your unprotected flue. You should also test the damper (the metal plate that opens and closes the flue just above the firebox) to make sure it’s working properly. It’s best to have a reputable chimney sweep clean and inspect your fireplace each year, to be on the safe side.
These are just a few safety tips to be aware of coming into this season. Other than that, we wish you to enjoy the beautiful weather and amenities that Southwest Florida has to offer!
Are you interested in building a home in Marco Island or Naples? We can help!
Reach Nick Cornwell
📲(239) 776-5076 or
via email at 📧BuildNow@NovaHomesBuilder.com
visit us at 💻 NovaHomesBuilder.com for more info!