Fall's officially settling in around Fairfield, and if you're anything like us, that means a mental checklist of things to handle before the real cold hits. Even though I was sweating on Tuesday, here's what's worth tackling this week.

If you can feel a draft around your windows or doors on a chilly night, weatherstripping tape is the cheapest fix you'll make all fall, usually under $10 and about 15 minutes per door or window. It works by filling the small gap between the frame and the sash or door edge, so warm air stays in and outside air stays out.

To install it: wipe down the frame first with rubbing alcohol so grease and dust don't stop the adhesive from sticking, then measure along the edge where the door or window actually seals shut and cut the tape to that length. Peel the backing off and press it into place in one continuous strip rather than a few short pieces, so you don't leave gaps between sections. Close the door or window once to set the seal, then go back and press firmly on any spot that still feels loose.

You can grab the Frost King self-stick weatherseal we recommend right here: amzn.to/4xiBIUy. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases, so grabbing yours this way also helps support the newsletter.

Same shoulder-season logic as the furnace tune-up: booking a chimney inspection now, while HVAC and chimney companies aren't buried in cold-weather panic calls, usually means better appointment availability and no rush-job pricing. Skip it and the risk isn't just inconvenience, a chimney with a season's worth of creosote buildup is a real fire hazard once you start using the fireplace regularly.

Look for a CSIA-certified sweep (Chimney Safety Institute of America), and know that most standard sweep-and-inspection visits in our region run $200 to $450 (ALC Chimney Service, 2026 regional pricing). If you've had any changes to your heating system this year, or haven't had it looked at in a couple of seasons, it's worth asking for at least a Level 1 visual inspection along with the cleaning.

That garage, basement, or attic pile you've been putting off? Now's the time, before cold hands and frozen ground make hauling it out twice as miserable.

If you're up for doing it yourself, Fairfield's Transfer Station at 898 Richard White Way is open 7am-3pm Monday through Friday and 7am-noon on Saturdays. You'll need an annual Town of Fairfield permit sticker, $25 for residents, just to get through the gate, which you can pick up here. From there, regular household trash runs $8 for up to 125 lbs, while bulky items like furniture or a real cleanout load start at $12 for a small amount and can climb toward $240 per ton for a full truck bed (Town of Fairfield Solid Waste & Recycling Regulations).

If you'd rather not spend your Saturday weighing loads and hauling trips yourself, or the job's bigger than your car can handle, that's exactly what Graziano's Junk Removal is for. Kyle Graziano, a Connecticut native and U.S. military veteran, runs this locally owned hauling business and handles residential, commercial, and construction debris removal, garages, basements, attics, storage units, offices, and rental properties. He offers free estimates and same-day service, and no job is too big or too small.

Call or text Kyle anytime for a quote, you can find his number in our Fairfield Contractor Directory.

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