August often arrives with two competing realities: summer is still blazing, but fall schedules are already knocking at the door. Before school routines, cooler evenings and autumn projects take over, this is an ideal week for Centennial homeowners to complete a few small tasks with surprisingly big payoffs.
Save Time: Put City Services in Your Pocket
Spotted a pothole, damaged street sign, traffic signal problem or other neighborhood concern? Skip the search for the correct department and use the My Centennial app or the City’s online reporting system.
Residents can submit a photo, allow GPS to identify the location and track the request from their phone. Reports may also be submitted anonymously. It is a simple way to turn “someone should report that” into “done” before you reach the next stoplight.
Save Money: Check for Rebates Before Starting a Project
Planning to replace windows, install new siding, improve accessibility or tackle another permitted renovation? Check Centennial’s Home Improvement Program before signing the final contract.
Qualified homeowners may receive a cash rebate of up to $300 for eligible projects. Most general projects require the home to have been built before 1990, but qualifying accessibility improvements are eligible regardless of the home’s age. Applications must be submitted within 90 days of passing the final inspection, so add the rebate paperwork to your project checklist before the work begins.
Xcel Energy also maintains a rebate finder for energy-efficient appliances and home upgrades. Before replacing an air conditioner, furnace, water heater or other major system, spend five minutes checking current incentives. That tiny research detour could keep more money in your pocket.
Live Better: Give the Yard an August Audit
Walk your property early in the morning and look for clogged gutters, dead branches, dry leaves against the house and shrubs crowding fences or exterior walls. Removing dry debris can improve drainage, protect your landscaping and reduce fire risk during Colorado’s hot, dry late-summer weeks.
South Metro Fire Rescue offers a self-guided Wildfire Home Assessment that takes only a few minutes and helps homeowners identify potential vulnerabilities around their property.
While outside, run each sprinkler zone for two or three minutes. Look for broken heads, water hitting pavement and soggy areas that may indicate a leak. Water on the sidewalk is not helping your lawn. It is simply making an expensive escape.
Clear the Chemical Clutter
Half-empty paint cans, old pesticides, automotive fluids and unwanted household chemicals should not be poured down drains or tossed into regular trash. Centennial residents have access to the At Your Door Special Collection program for eligible household hazardous waste, allowing many materials to be collected without a pilgrimage across the metro area.
Choose one or two of these projects this week rather than attempting a whole-house transformation. Centennial SMARTS is not about doing everything. It is about making the next right improvement, saving a little time, protecting a little money and creating a home that works better for the people living inside it.
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I learned the hard way that pouring old paint down the drain is a big no-no. Glad the pickup service exists now!
Gail MorrisonGlad you mentioned that! My neighbor tried that years ago and they had a plumber out after a clog. The pickup service makes it so much easier.
Appreciate the heads up about the 90 day rebate deadline. Would’ve totally missed that after my last inspection.
Love that the city is making this info clear. Sometimes I forget little stuff like the gutters but it really adds up.
Centennial really has improved city resources over the past few years. Didn’t have any of this when I moved here back in 2005.
Every time I get motivated to tackle yard chores it rains, lol. At least the city programs make things a little easier when I finally get to it!
I wish more cities had these kinds of small but helpful programs. Centennial is pretty on top of things.
Francie L.Totally agree. We moved here from a place that was much less organized. It makes a real difference for homeowners.
Do they take old fluorescent bulbs in that chemical pickup? I've got a box full. Glad this exists.
Sal P.They do! I called about bulbs earlier this year and was able to include them in the pickup. So much easier than driving out to a collection site.
Yes, the At Your Door Special Collection accepts fluorescent bulbs along with many other household hazardous materials, check their website for a full list. We're glad the program is helpful to you!
Just checked our side yard and sure enough, dry leaves everywhere! Time for some morning yard work this weekend.
Wish there was a program for tree removal, those old cottonwoods are a pain. At least I’ll check for rebates on other stuff.
Our city making it easier to report issues is great, just hope the teams fixing potholes are as fast as the app!
Never thought about checking sprinklers until we got a huge bill last August. Catch things early!
Glad accessibility projects are included for newer homes, too. Makes my place eligible for a ramp I’ve wanted to add. Thanks for pointing that out.
Running the sprinklers by zone made me realize a few heads were broken. Thanks for the push, now my sidewalk isn’t always soggy.
Solid tips but not everyone has the time for all this. Gonna try the hazardous waste pickup though!
We absolutely agree, not everything needs to happen at once! Focusing on one or two high-impact tasks, like hazardous waste pickup, is the Centennial SMARTS way.
Does the My Centennial app let you track if your report gets fixed, or do you never hear back?
Dead branches next to the house are risky for fires. Lost a fence to a small one last year, so take that warning seriously.
If you haven’t cleared old junk out of your garage, now’s the time. The city pickup folks are very friendly too!
Great tip! And don’t forget Centennial’s At Your Door Special Collection program for safely disposing of household chemicals you might find during your cleanup.
Do rentals qualify for the home improvement rebates, or is it only for homeowners living in the property?
Just downloaded My Centennial. Going to report that faded crosswalk down by Peabody! We need safer crossings for the kids.
Penelope V.Smart move! That crosswalk is really faded. Hope the city gets on it quick, my kids cross there too.
Appreciate these reminders. I tend to put things off but maybe just doing one project this week is more doable. Going to tackle the gutters first!
We’ve lived here since ‘89 and I didn’t even know there was a home improvement rebate. Guess it pays to keep up with city updates.
I appreciate tips like ‘don’t try to do everything at once’, that’s my downfall every fall!
Anita J.Same here! I always start with a giant list and then burn out. Picking just one or two things makes it way less stressful.
Doing a yard walk in the morning is actually peaceful. You notice things you’d miss in a hurry.
Absolutely, those quiet morning walks are perfect for spotting little fixes and enjoying a calm start to the day.
Love the reminder to audit sprinklers now. Mine were watering the driveway half the summer, oops.
Wish the rebate was a little more than $300 but better than nothing, I guess. City should raise that cap next year.
I wish Xcel's rebate finder wasn't so confusing. Last time I checked, there were weird restrictions. Worth checking anyway, I guess.
I like that Centennial lets you do the hazardous waste pickup right from home. Saves a trip and feels good to declutter safely.
Xcel rebates saved us on our water heater last fall. Definitely check before buying anything big.
Lisa SorensonWe got a rebate through Xcel on our AC. Those small savings add up, especially with utility costs these days.
Pro tip: Take pictures before and after home upgrades. That way, rebate paperwork is easier if proof is needed. Learned this the hard way!
Energy rebates are great, but Xcel’s finder site can be confusing sometimes. Anyone know if portable A/C units count?
August chores are a drag but I appreciate this list being pretty doable. Not overwhelming, just practical.
The part about not dumping chemicals in the drain is so important. We have a creek near our backyard, and I always worry about runoff.
These little reminders always help. Going to walk my yard early tomorrow and make a list. August always sneaks up on me.
The wildfire risk is real! Saw neighbors clear out brush after last summer's fires. Good to remind everyone.
Patty Q.Totally! We started trimming back trees around our place too. With how dry it's been lately, doesn't hurt to stay safe.
Absolutely, wildfire preparedness is more important than ever in our area. Small actions like clearing brush can make a big difference for your property and your neighborhood.
I love the online reporting but sometimes wonder if the city actually does anything with the submissions. Anyone have luck getting street lights fixed?
City’s app helps a lot, but sometimes the potholes take a while to get fixed. At least they know about them!
How does Xcel know if you buy an energy saver? Is a receipt enough? Wondering if it’s worth the effort.
Will say, sometimes reporting thru apps never seems to get a response. Hope Centennial's is better than Denver's.
August always creeps up on me. Grateful for the reminder to deal with yard cleanup now. Fires have been no joke the past few years.
Who else is cleaning out the garage after reading this? The paint cans have multiplied like rabbits.
The At Your Door pickup is a lifesaver when cleaning out the garage! Didn’t have to haul old paint cans across town.
For the home improvement rebate, do you have to use certain contractors, or will any licensed one count?
Samuel TorresPretty sure any licensed contractor is fine for most projects, but you might want to double check the rebate rules to be safe. The city website has the details.
Our HOA emails about gutters every August, but seeing why it matters (fire, drainage, etc.) makes it less annoying this time.
Always wondered what to do with old antifreeze bottles! That At Your Door program sounds legit.
Mark H.Yep, I used it for some paint cans. Was super easy, just scheduled a pickup and left them by the door. Feels good to finally get rid of that stuff safely.
Anyone used the home improvement rebate? Curious how long they take to send the check. Would help a lot with siding costs.
The Wildfire Home Assessment is underrated. We did it last summer and found way more dry brush than we realized. Worth the few minutes.
Giving the yard an 'audit' is clever. Found dead limbs on my old ash tree that probably should go. Thanks for the nudge!
Glad to hear the yard audit led to a helpful discovery! Removing those dead limbs will make your yard safer and healthier heading into fall.
Running each sprinkler zone for a few minutes makes such a difference. I found a broken head this way last month, fixed it myself!
I wish I'd known about the home improvement rebate before we got our windows done last month. Ouch. Passing the info to my neighbor though!
Honestly, I had no clue about the Home Improvement Program. Does anyone know if roofs are covered? Ours is from '84.
The Home Improvement Program can cover roofs as long as the work is permitted and your home was built before 1990, yours sounds eligible! Be sure to review the program guidelines for full details.
Is the At Your Door pickup free, or do you have to pay extra? Would be nice if the article explained that part.
Never knew you could submit reports anonymously on the app. Makes it easier for those of us who get shy complaining!
Just signed up for the hazardous waste pickup. Had cans sitting in my garage for ages. Didn't realize it was so easy.
So glad to hear you found the hazardous waste pickup easy to use! It’s a great way to clear out the garage safely and responsibly.
South Metro’s wildfire checklist is worth it. We did it last year and found way more dry stuff against our fence than we thought. Not just for folks in the foothills!
Making a note to check my sprinkler heads this weekend. I hate seeing water run down the street, feels like throwing money out.
Sprinkler test is a must. Found a broken head after seeing this! Saved me some water for sure.
Great catch! It’s amazing how a quick sprinkler check can save both water and money, thanks for sharing your experience.
Honestly wish I'd heard about those home improvement rebates before we got new windows last year, could have saved some $$. Sharing this with my neighbor!
I did the At Your Door program last year for old paint cans. Super easy, and I didn't have to load them in my car. Love that Centennial offers this!
Super useful to hear about the rebates! We replaced windows last year, wish I'd seen this before. Passing along to my neighbor.
Thank you for helping spread the word! While it’s always best to check for rebates before tackling a project, passing this info to a neighbor is a win for the whole community.
Love the tip about the At Your Door program! I’ve got a shelf of old paint cans taking up space in my garage. Didn’t realize I could have them picked up.
That My Centennial app sounds pretty slick. Anyone tried reporting something through it? Curious how quick the city replies.
Did the My Centennial app actually work for folks? I always worry those just disappear into some city inbox.
matt_ridesI used it for a streetlight that was out and got a response in a few days. Not instant but way better than calling around, honestly.
I’d never thought about piles of dry leaves being a fire risk, but that makes a lot of sense. Going to clear along the fence for sure.
Trisha E.Yeah, it surprised me too. I used to just rake them into piles against the garage. Now I try to bag everything!
Love that you can file anonymous reports with the city app. Makes it easier to point things out without feeling awkward.
We checked Xcel for rebates last year and got one for our new furnace. Everyone should look before buying appliances. Super easy.
Thanks for sharing your experience! Those quick rebate checks can really pay off, it’s always worth a look before any big purchase.
Didn't know there was an app for reporting potholes. That would've saved me some headache last month. Hope it works fast.
Never knew about the My Centennial app. Reporting potholes from the phone sounds way easier, will have to give that a shot next time I spot one!
I always forget about checking for rebates. That $300 could go toward something fun, so that's a nice tip before jumping into big projects.
My gutter is totally clogged from monsoon season. Guess I know what I’m doing this weekend!
Sounds like a great plan! Clearing your gutters now will help prevent drainage issues and protect your landscaping during the rest of the summer.
Does the At Your Door collection take old batteries too or just liquids and paint? I always end up with a box of random stuff.
Thanks for the tip about the South Metro Fire Rescue assessment. Fire season gives me anxiety every August.
Jessie TranSame here, especially after the wet spring we had. The assessment is super straightforward and did help me spot a few issues I wouldn’t have noticed.
Wish I had known about the home improvement rebates before we redid our siding last year. $300 would’ve been nice!
Lori S.Oof, I feel you! I missed the rebate on new windows a couple years back. Now I always double check before starting anything big.
So glad they added the My Centennial app. I used it last month to report a broken streetlight and it was fixed way quicker than before!