Autumn & Winter Care Tips
Autumn is a great time to look over your home and ensue that it is ready for the cold winter months. Although many Woodside homeowners enjoy mild winter temperatures, some may experience below freezing conditions. Below we've included a few precautionary care tips.

• Clean and flush the gutters and down spouts before the rainy season starts.
• Clean and/or replace furnace and humidifier filters and clean the vents. This will increase efficiency and lower your energy bills.
• Schedule any needed furnace maintenance early before peak use periods. Many furnace contractors are very busy after the first cold spell.
• Autumn weather is a great time to do any needed interior or exterior touch-up painting. It's still warm enough to open windows for ventilation inside and cool enough to make exterior paint more pleasant.
• Fences, gates and exterior railing take a beating during the summer months. Inspect yours for weather or insect damage. Repaint or refinish as needed. Touching up the paint will protect from rusting.
• In many areas, autumn can mean brush fires. Cut back any brush growing close to your home and remove any potential fire hazards.
• You may want to consider calling a professional to winterize your air conditioner. This will add years to its life and running efficiency.

In areas where freezing occurs…
In colder areas, pipes can freeze and break. If you plan to be away for more than a day or two in winter, ask a responsible person to check your home daily just to be safe.

• Remove garden hoses from exterior faucets and store them away. Leaving them attached can cause damage to your home's plumbing. Also consider attaching freeze cones or wraps to protect all hose bibs from freezing.
• To winterize your irrigation system, turn the supply valve 90 degrees, or cross ways to the supply line. Open the test valves as indicated by the illustration on your system. Turn the ball valves 1/8th of a turn to the "Winter" position.
• Do not use salt or deicers on your concrete surfaces (driveways or sidewalks). These can lead to chipping and cracking. Promptly remove snow and ice from your concrete. Wash road salts off concrete as soon as possible. Consider using sand for traction.