Get your garage ready for winter
When we think of getting our homes ready for the cold weather ahead of us, the usual activities may come to mind: Check the furnace, weatherstrip the doors and windows and wrap the pipes, but homeowners often forget about an area that gets a lot of wear and tear all summer long – the garage.
“Storing your lawn and garden equipment is an important part of preparing for winter that many people don’t think enough about,” says David Sankey, a lawn equipment care expert for Sears HomeCentral. “It’s not hard – all it takes is a seasonal reminder and a few minutes of time to save unnecessary headaches in the spring.”
Sankey says too many people just finish using their equipment for the season and store it over the winter as they did between weekly usage. This typically leads to starting and maintenance problems in the spring.
WINTER PREPARATIONS
He suggests homeowners pour the remaining gas from their outdoor power equipment into an approved container then start the engine and let it run out of gas. This completely empties the carburetor of fuel and prevents starting problems in the spring. Sankey says. Homeowners can safely dispose of each season’s gas by emptying their small containers into their automobile’s fuel tank (provided the car does not have a diesel engine). He adds that buying a fresh can of fuel each season will be one of the best investments an owner can make.
The oil, spark plug and air filters should be changed after each season’s use. After these steps have been taken, the homeowner should gently pull on the starter cord until it reaches the point of maximum resistance then release and let the cord recoil. This sets the engine on its compression stroke where both valves are closed and the cylinder chamber is best sealed from the elements.
If homeowners are not sure they can perform these tasks, they can have their mower serviced by a professional.
CLEANING EQUIPMENT
To properly clean your lawn and garden equipment isn’t all that needs to be done in the garage as fall draws near. The Sears HomeCentral experts say it is a good time to overhaul your garage so you will be one step ahead when spring cleaning rolls around. They recommendthe following:
l Since garages are rarely heated, remove anything that might freeze, like paint, caulk and adhesives.
l Sweep the floor and get rid of unused items.
l Organize all tools or outdoor gear.
l If discarding any environmentally hazardous materials and pollutants, be sure to contact your local refuse department to learn the proper way to dispose of them.
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