“Good Morning, Northern Colorado”
☕Coffee ready?
October is here, and that means cooler mornings, changing leaves and a few important projects to tackle before winter arrives.
Welcome back to The Saturday Punchlist - your quick weekly guide to protecting your home without sacrificing your entire weekend.
This week, we’re talking about getting ahead of freezing temperatures, checking commonly overlooked part of your home and making the most of fall in Northern Colorado.
Grab your coffee. Let’s get to it!
🛠️ 1 Project - Schedule Your Sprinkler Blowout
Northern Colorado weather can change quickly, and the first hard freeze can arrive before you expect it.
If you haven’t scheduled your sprinkler blowout, now is the time. Irrigation companies get busy in October, and waiting too long can leave your system vulnerable to frezze damage.
⏰Time: 20-30 minutes
💰 Cost: $0-$75
🟡Difficulty: Moderate
How to do it:
1) Shut off the water: Turn off the main water supply to your sprinkler system.
2) Connect the air compressor: Attatch Compressor to the system’s designated blowout port. Never connect it through the backflow preventer.
3) Set the air pressure: Use no more than 50 PSI for polyethylene pipe or 80 PSI for PVC, and follow your system limits.
4) Blow out each zone: Start with zone furthest from compressor. Open one zone at a time and slowly introduce air until the sprinkler heads stop spraying water. Avoid running air through a dry zone.
5) Repeat for every zone: Work through the entire system, ensuring each zone is cleared.
6) Shut Everything down: Disconnect the compressor and follow your manufactuer’s instruction winterizing the backflow preventer.
Important: If you don’t have the proper equipment or aren’t familar with your system, hire a professional
🟡DIY if you have equipment and comfort level, but for the cost might be worth hiring a pro.
👀 1 Thing to Check
Check your Furnance Filter
Before your furnance starts working overtime, check your air filter. A dirty airfilter can restrict airflow and make your heating system work harder than necessary.
Quick Tip: Make sure your new filter is the correct size and the airflow arrows point towards the furnace.
🤔1 Thing You’re Probably Ignoring
Exterior Caulking
Quick Question:
Have you looked at your caulking latley?
If your answer is “What caulking” it’s probably time.
Your assignment this week is simple.
Take five minutes to inspect the caulking around your windows and doors. Cracked or missing sealant can allow moisture and cold air into your home.
A little attention now can prevent bigger headaches this winter.
🔢 Numbers That Matter
$75 vs $500+ - The cost of prevention vs the cost of repair
A professional sprinkler blowout typically costs around $75 depending on your system and location.
Skip it, and a hard freeze could leave you facing $500 or more in repairs to damaged pipes, valves or backflow preventers.
The Takeaway: A little money spent on maintenance today can prevent a much bigger expense tomorrow.
Don’t wait for the first freeze to get on your irrigation company’s schedule.
📍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: What To Do With All Those Fall Leaves
October is here, and Northern Colorado’s trees are beginning to put on their annual show. But those beautiful fall colors also mean one thing: leaves everywhere.
Before you rake everything into a pile, remember that leaves left in gutters and against your home’s foundation can create drainage problems when snow and moisture arrive.
Punchlist Tip: Mulch a light layer of leaves into your lawn, compost them or check your city’s yard collection options. Keep storm drains and gutters clear.
💡 LOCAL RESOURCE: CHECK WHAT YOU QUALIFY FOR
Fort Collins residents have several options for disposing of leaves and other yard debris.
Check the city's recycling and yard waste resources to find available drop-off locations and collection information.
🎉 AROUND TOWN THIS WEEKEND
🎉 AROUND TOWN THIS WEEKEND
🐶 Saturday: Tour de Corgi — Old Town Fort Collins
Costumed corgis, a parade and plenty of family fun in downtown Fort Collins.
🍂 Saturday: Oktoberfest at Bath Garden Center — 11 AM–1 PM
Enjoy pumpkin bowling, live music, fall activities and refreshments. Free admission!
🥕 Saturday: Larimer County Farmers' Market — 9 AM–1 PM
Stop by Old Town for fresh produce, local vendors and fall favorites.
🦌 Saturday & Sunday: Elk Fest — Estes Park
Take a scenic drive into the mountains and celebrate elk season in Estes Park.
🚴 Sunday: Tour de Farms — Fort Collins
Explore local farms on a guided 30-plus-mile cycling adventure.
Punchlist Tip: Take a break from the weekend projects and enjoy fall in Northern Colorado!
🌤️ WEEKEND WEATHER WATCH
Saturday: 86° | Mostly Sunny
Sunday: 79° | Mostly Sunny
A beautiful , unusually warm October weekend in Northern Colorado! With plenty of sunshine and little chance of rain, it’s a great opportunity to tackle outdoor maintenance, clean your gutters and get your yard ready for colder weather.
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