Seasonal work around the house and yard

As the season changes, it’s time to make some changes around our home.

Yard — Basic yard clean-up: Rake the fallen leaves. Cleans gutters around the house.

After you have gathered the last bounty from your vegetable garden, remove the old vegetable plants. If you compost, now is the time to add a layer to enrich the soil for next spring.

Cut back dead or diseased branches. The risk is high for damage with winter snow or a freeze to lose more of the tree.

Disconnect and drain hoses. Drain irrigation systems.

Give the lawn one last mow. Use weed and feed on the lawn.

Perennials did great this year. Divide the flowers, add them to other areas of your yard or give them to neighbors.

If your mulch is getting thin around plants, add more.

If you have a wood deck, power wash, and consider weather-proofing stain to protect the wood and extend its life.

Clean and store the gardening tools.

Prepare for the fall green waste pickup. Monday, Nov. 27 to Friday, Dec. 8. See the website for all the specifics.

https://www.cabq.gov/solidwaste/green-waste

Swamp Cooler, Air Conditioning to Heat: For each system, consult a professional if in doubt.

• Swamp Cooler:

Unplug from power source.

Turn off the water line and disconnect.

Drain the water to prevent corrosion.

Clean dirt and grime away, including mineral buildup.

Change evaporative pads.

Install a cover.

Block the vent to the house.

• Air Conditioner (recommendations from the Department of Energy):

Clean and/or replace filters.

Check and clean your coils.

Inspect coil fins and repair.

Turn off and consider a cover.

Preparation for the furnace

Clean and clear the area around the furnace.

Switch off power. Clean the filter. Examine the belts for replacement.

Check for the gas pilot light.

Test the operation before it gets too cold, so you have time to schedule repairs before the rush.

Test smoke and CO detectors: Change the clocks and batteries in smoke detectors

We revert to Standard time the first Sunday in November. Fall back 1 hour.

It is recommended that we change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. If you don’t have an alarm, consider this affordable safety device.

Clean out the garage, closets, and other storage space at your home.

Garage: We all know people who have a garage yet park their vehicles outside and store less valuable “stuff” in their garage. Consider some ways to get rid of things and do good.

• If you have metal items, perhaps you can sell them for scrap.
• Household hazardous waste in your garage? Household wastes which can burn easily (flammable), corrode, or irritate skin (corrosive), generate heat or explode (reactive), or poison humans and animals (toxic) are examples of household hazardous wastes. Items such as paints, fertilizers, cleaners, insecticides, pool chemicals, used motor oil, and automobile batteries may be brought into the household hazardous waste collection center. It’s free for residents of Albuquerque and Bernalillo County.

Sandoval County: Residential household hazardous waste for a $20 fee

Valencia County: Has quarterly events, see website-https://www.co.valencia.nm.us/206/Public-Works

Have a tent in the garage you won’t be using, but it is in good shape? Give it to a young family so they can start their adventures in the great outdoors. Sell it on a resale site. Don’t forget all the accessory camping gear that you won’t be using. It needs a new home.

ABQ garage sales rules: Other items you no longer use, but could be used by others? Enough for a garage sale? Consider a neighborhood garage sale. Know the rules in your community. In Albuquerque: Garage or yard sales are only allowed twice per calendar year at a given home with low-density residential development, i.e. single-family detached, duplex, or townhouse. Garage or yard sales are only allowed four times per calendar year at a property with multi-family development. Each sale may not exceed three days in length, and only typical household goods may be sold. Advertising signs are not allowed on medians or other city property.

Closets: Time to sort through the closet, dresser, and shoe pile to see what you no longer wear. Add it to the garage sale or donate. School recently started and Locker505.org can use donations for the student clothing bank. See the website for a list of needed items. https://locker505.org/donate-clothes. If your items are not suitable for students, there are many good thrift stores, doing good work in the community.

Basement, shed, storage unit, oh my: The weather is cooling, so it will be more comfortable to take on that task. Get rid of what you don’t need. Recycle where possible to save the landfill.

Pantry: Consider making a food donation to Roadrunner Food Bank. www.rrfb.org