It's 1:30 in the morning and you've been awakened by something. You lay there in the dark, trying to get your bearings, straining to hear if the noise will repeat itself. Then besides you in the bed, your dog growls and looks at the door. You think about the thin pane of glass that separates you from the lurking prowler outside. You consider going to the safe or maybe grabbing the baseball bat, but you settle on a flashlight instead. You try to creep up to the blinds without revealing yourself and peek through the small gap near the glass. The black boots you expect to see aren't there. The hulking figure of a masked intruder is not jiggling your door handle. It is your patio umbrella that has been upended and is laying on it's side being blown all over your backyard.
Hopefully you were spared from getting this kind of a wake up call last night! With wind speeds clocked at over 36 MPH, the near gale force winds scoured Mt. Diablo at one o' clock in the morning. And last night's wind storm was a good reminder; that for homeowners November is a prime maintenance month. As we watch the leaves fall, November is the perfect time to schedule that tree trimming and have an able bodied neighbor or relative help you clean out the gutters. Remember that safety is no accident, over 90,000 Americans annually seek medical care after falling off a ladder. And fall winterizing is one of the main culprits behind our mishaps. Make sure you use the right size ladder for the job, wear the proper footwear, ensure the ladder is in good condition and don't reach! It's a pain to have to get down and keep moving your ladder, but it can save you from a fall and injury.
As we head towards Halloween and the season for all things that go bump in the night. Give yourself some peace of mind so you don't have to worry that the wind will give you a fright...