When the weather starts cooling off and the leaves begin to change, you know it’s time to prepare your home for fall. There are several steps that you should take as a homeowner to make sure your home is ready for fall and winter. Use these 7 tips to get ready to welcome the next seasons.
1. Prepare the Exterior of Your Home for Fall
Seal up cracks in the foundation and around windows and doors where bugs might enter to escape from the cold. Replace any worn out weatherstripping. This also helps prevent drafts so that your home heating system will work more efficiently once chilly weather arrives.
2. Clean the Gutters
Gutters that are clogged with leaves and other debris can overflow, causing rain and snow to damage the roof and lead to leaks. Damaged roofing can result in thousands of dollars of repairs to the roof and to fix any interior water damage. Gutter cleaning is one of the most important things you can do to prepare your home for fall.
3. Fall Storage of Outdoor Equipment
All of the outdoor furniture you’ve enjoyed during the summer will stay in better shape if you store it properly through the colder months. If you can’t bring some pieces inside because they’re too large, purchase furniture covers to protect them from the rain and snow.
4. Get Your Lawn and Driveway Ready
Water and ice can cause driveways to crack if they aren’t properly sealed. Have your driveway sealed professionally in early fall, or spot-seal it yourself with a crack filler found at most home improvement stores. Mow your grass one last time before fall begins and treat it with fertilizer to prepare for a lush, green lawn in the spring.
5. Prepare Your Home for Cold Weather
If you live in a climate where the weather changes often, inspect your cold-weather equipment when preparing your home. Make sure your snowblower, shovels, salt, and other winter equipment is in great shape and easy to access.
6. HVAC Tune-Up
Home energy costs can skyrocket once it turns colder. To help keep those costs low, have your furnace serviced at the end of summer. Whether you do it yourself or have a qualified HVAC technician perform the tune-up, regular maintenance should always include a new filter and a thorough cleaning of the unit.
7. Prepare Your Home for Fall Safety
Since you’ll be spending more time indoors in the fall and winter, it’s important to make sure that your home is safe. Test your smoke detectors and replace the batteries. Review your fire escape plan with your family. Schedule a chimney cleaning to remove creosote build-up and prepare your fireplace for use.
These tips will help you prepare for fall. Your home will be safe, more energy-efficient, and comfortable for you and your family to enjoy the season.
Reifsteck Home Inspections offers home inspections to Champaign, Illinois, and the surrounding areas. Contact us to request our services.