The beginning of cooler weather brings changes for all, including your home! Be proactive and prepare your home for colder temperatures. Whether you choose to tackle these projects on your own, or hire professional help, you will ultimately save money and time if you plan now. Here are 6 tips that will help prepare your home for the fall months ahead.
Maintain your gutters: Your home’s gutters and drainage system reroutes a ton of water from your exterior walls. This is why it’s essential to keep your water drainage system flowing smoothly. If gutters are clogged with fallen leaves and twigs, they can corrode and rust. If this happens, the water can harm your exterior surfaces and can even generate flooding in your basement or main level. Before the leaves start to fall, be sure to clean out your gutters or replace them if necessary.
Check your furnace: Always check to make sure your furnace is working properly before heading into the cooler months. Your furnace filter may need to be changed or cleaned if it’s clogged. Clogged filters make it difficult to keep your home at a comfortable temperature and often cause an increase in your utility bill.
Protect outdoor furniture from harsh weather: If you have patio furniture for an outdoor space that you enjoyed during the summer months, you may want to cover or store that furniture before fall. Not all furniture is made to withstand colder temperatures or inches of snow. If you’re hoping to reuse the furniture next summer, be sure to store it in a covered or protected area, such as a shed or garage.
Turn off outdoor plumbing: Drain or turn off any outdoor faucets, garden hoses and sprinkler systems. Be sure to turn them off and cover them before the winter weather comes. This will prevent water from freezing that can lead to your pipes bursting.
Inspect doors and windows: To help keep warm air inside and cold air outside, check your windows, doors and sliders. This process of “weatherstripping” helps keep interior air from escaping and this saves energy on air conditioning and heating. Also, make sure all openings seal properly to prevent rain and water from entering your home.
Go over safety plans: Remember to replace the batteries in your carbon monoxide and smoke alarm systems. This should be done every year to be sure that your safety monitors are working properly. You can also put together a family emergency preparedness kit that can help you prepare for possible power outages in the colder months.
Take time to make some minor changes to your home before fall begins. These helpful tips can better prepare you and your family for the fall and winter seasons. Having a plan and making these quick changes will also save you time and money in the future!