Yard Cleanup & Thermostat Upgrade Action Plan

Why You Need This Checklist

Ever stood in your yard staring at a mountain of leaves, not sure if you're doing it the right way — or just the slow way? Or walked past your thermostat and wondered if that old device is silently costing you money every single month? You're not imagining it. Most homeowners are losing time and energy because they haven't been shown the right approach — and nobody wants to figure it out by trial and error in the cold.

Here's what the problem really looks like: leaves matted on your lawn can kill the grass and carry disease spores into next spring. Your basement sits cold and unusable because a concrete floor feels like a dealbreaker. And that thermostat on your wall? It might literally be a mercury-filled relic from a previous century, doing a fraction of what modern systems can do for your comfort and your energy bill.

Now imagine this: your yard is clean, your compost pile is stacked with shredded leaves ready to break down fast, your basement has been transformed into a warm playroom your family actually uses, and your thermostat is connected to your smartphone — letting you control temperature, lighting, door locks, and energy usage from anywhere in the world. That's not a fantasy. That's exactly what Roger Cook, Tom Silva, and the crew at This Old House walk through in this episode, step by step.

This Old House has been the most trusted name in home improvement for decades. Roger knows which rake actually picks up thatch. Tom knows how to cut a perfect circle in carpet tile around a basement post. And Tommy's basement moisture test alone could save you from a flooring disaster that would cost hundreds to fix. These are guys who have seen every mistake homeowners make — and they tell you exactly how to avoid them.

This checklist takes everything from this episode and organizes it into a clean, printable action plan you can follow from your first leaf pile to your last carpet tile. Every tool recommendation, every glue pattern, every moisture test, every thermostat upgrade path — captured so you don't have to rewatch the video or try to remember what Roger said about propane blowers. Just grab the checklist, work through it, and get it done right the first time.

What's Inside — Preview

Every checklist item comes with actionable notes to guide you — things like "Don't forget to do this before you start," "Avoid this common mistake," or "Set a reminder for 30 days out." Nothing vague, just clear next steps.

DECIDE Assess your yard and choose the right rake for your leaf volume and bed density

DO Rake leaves away from lawn to prevent matting, lawn kill, and disease spore buildup

DECIDE Decide whether to compost leaves on-site or bag them for town collection

DO Use a collapsible basket to carry small loads of leaves to the compost area

DO Use a tarp to drag large volumes of leaves across the yard to the compost pile

+ 30 more action items inside...

Yard Cleanup & Thermostat Upgrade Action Plan

Why You Need This Checklist

What's Inside — Preview

Get the Full Checklist