“Good Morning, Northern Colorado”
☕Coffee ready?
Welcome to the first edition of The Saturday Punchlist — a quick weekly guide to help you stay ahead of home maintenance without giving up your entire weekend.
No 47-item checklists. No projects that require three trips to the hardware store.
Just a few things worth your attention.
Let’s get to it.
🛠️ 1 Project - Clean Your Dryer Vent
You clean the lint screen after every load — hopefully.
But when was the last time you cleaned the dryer vent itself?
Lint can build up inside the vent running from your dryer to the exterior of your home. That buildup can restrict airflow, make your dryer work harder and create a potential fire hazard.
⏰Time: 20-30 minutes
💰 Cost: $0-$25
🟢Difficulty: Easy
How to do it:
1) Unplug your dryer.
If you have a gas dryer and need to disconnect or move the gas line, stop and call a professional.
2) Carefully pull the dryer away from the wall
3) Disconnect the vent duct from the back of the dryer
Use a vaccum to remove lint around the dryer connection and inside the accessible portion of the duct.
4) Clean deeper into the vent
A dryer-vent cleaning brush kit can help remove lint farther into the line.
5) Check the exterior vent
Make sure the flaps open freely and isn’t blocked by lint,debris or anything else.
Reconnect everything securley before using the dryer.
🟢DIY if you have a short,easily accessible dryer vent.
👀 1 Thing to Check
Look Under Your Sink
Open Cabinets undernearth your kitchen and bathroom sinks
Don’t just glance
Run your hand around the supply lines, shutoff valves, drain connections and bottom of the cabinet.
You’re looking for
Moisture
Water Stains
Corrosion
Musty SmellsSwollen or Damaged Cabinet Material
A tiny plumbing leak can go unoticed for a long time it’s hidden inside a cabinet.
Takes 2 Mintues
🤔1 Thing You’re Probably Ignoring
Your Water Heater
Quick Question:
How old is your water heater?
If your answer is “I have no idea” you’re not alone.
Your assignment this week is simple.
Find the manufactuer’s label on the side of your water heater and take a picture with your phone.
Look for the manufacture date, model number and serial number.
Keep the photo
You don’t need to replace anything today. You simply want to know what you’re working with before a problem occurs.
Future you will appreaciate it.
🔢 Numbers That Matter
1 Year - A good interval to inspect and clean many dryer vent systems, depending on usage and configuration.
10-15 Years - A common range for traditional tank water heater service life, though maintenance, water quality and usage matter.
2 Minutes - How long it takes to check underneath your sinks for signs of a leak.
📍Local Pro
Presented by: Founding Punchlist Partner
We're building something different at Punchlist Project.
Rather than filling this newsletter with random ads, we're creating a network of local home-service professionals we believe Fort Collins homeowners should know about.
Plumbers. Electricians. HVAC contractors. Painters. Landscapers. Handymen. Appliance-repair companies. And more.
Before we feature a company here, we'll review things like its reputation, insurance and applicable licensing or credentials.
Our goal is simple:
When something on your Punchlist requires a professional, we want to make finding one easier.
Are you a Northern Colorado home-service company interested in becoming a Founding Punchlist Partner?
📍 AROUND NORTHERN COLORADO
What local homeowners should know this weekend
🍂 HOMEOWNER HEADS-UP: FALL IS CLOSER THAN YOU THINK
September is a great time to knock out exterior projects before Northern Colorado's colder weather arrives.
This weekend, take 10 minutes and walk around your home. Check exterior faucets, gutters and downspouts, damaged caulking, peeling paint, sprinkler heads and anything else you'd rather deal with on a 70-degree afternoon than a freezing one.
Punchlist Tip: Don't try to fix everything today. Take pictures and start a list on your phone. That's your fall punchlist.
💡 LOCAL RESOURCE: CHECK WHAT YOU QUALIFY FOR
Fort Collins offers a number of programs designed to help qualifying residents reduce household and utility costs through its Get FoCo program. Programs include utility assistance, reduced-rate Connexion internet and other city benefits. (Foco)
🎉 AROUND TOWN
Taste of Fort Collins moves into the fall this year and takes over Washington Park on Saturday and Sunday, September 26–27. Saturday's headliner is Modest Mouse, with Lil Jon performing Sunday. Expect food, local vendors and live music throughout the weekend.
EnergyFest is also happening Saturday at CSU's Powerhouse Energy Campus. It's a family-friendly event featuring interactive energy exhibits, Powerhouse tours, STEM activities, electric race cars, EV test drives and demonstrations—including indoor vs. outdoor air quality. That last one actually ties nicely into the Punchlist home-maintenance mission.
And if you'd rather get outside, the Northern Colorado Mountain Bike Festival runs September 25–27 at Inlet Bay at Horsetooth Reservoir, with riding, demo bikes, skills activities, music and trail advocacy.
🌤️ WEEKEND WEATHER WATCH
Saturday: 85° | Partly Sunny
A warm, dry Saturday with only a slight chance of rain. Great weather for gutter cleaning, exterior caulking, yard cleanup, or knocking out another outdoor project before Northern Colorado’s cooler fall weather arrives. Start early and beat the afternoon heat.
You’re Done
Your house doesn't need your entire Saturday.
Thirty minutes of attention every week can prevent a lot of expensive surprises.
That's what The Saturday Punchlist is all about.
We'll be back next Saturday with another project, another quick check and a few more things worth knowing.
Until then...
Go enjoy your weekend.
— Punchlist Project
Protect Your Investment — One Project at a Time