Those hot summer days are behind us as we begin to roll into fall and the colder months. With the air getting a little chiller and the sun going down sooner, there are a few things you can do to prepare your home for winter and get some fall maintenance done while you’re at it. By prepping your home for the colder weather, you’re helping get ahead of any issues that might come and prevent costly fixes.
Take a look at some of our recommendations to get your house ready for the winter and get some fall maintenance done while you’re at it.
Clean Your Gutters
Fall is the perfect time to get on that ladder and clean the gutters. While the job isn’t glamourous, it will help your home tremendously during the winter when rain is going down. With clean gutters, you’re protecting your house’s exterior and foundation. You can even cover your gutters with a mesh gutter cover to keep debris from falling in.
Inspect Your Roof
A leaky roof can become a big issue during the winter months and be costly. Before the weather turns, inspect your roof from top to bottom for any damages. This can be cracks in shingles to wind damage, or even issues around the chimney or vents. If you’re unsure, you can always call professionals out to take a look for you.
Protect Your Pipes from Freezing – How To Prepare Your Home For Winter
If you live in a colder state where temperatures usually dip into freezing, make sure to take care of your pipes. You can buy Styrofoam faucet covers to help protect your pipes, and there are a ton of online resources you can look at to get ahead of freezing or bursting pipes.
Prepare Your Fireplace
While newer homes might not have fireplaces, so older models do, and it is an excellent option for warming your house. Make sure to check your fireplace every year for damage and hazards. The best option is to have a professional come in and prevent the flue and creosote buildup, and both can cause fire hazards in your home. Also, make sure your flue cap is in place and has no blockages from birds or other obstructions.
Check your fire detectors
This might seem like a no brainer, but often people forget to replace the batteries in their fire alarms. Check all of your alarms and CO detectors to make sure batteries are fresh and have reasonable expirations dates. Usually, detectors are suitable for ten years, and CO detectors are good for six. A great rule of thumb is to change your batteries during daylight savings, which occurs in fall and spring.
Store Your Outdoor Furniture – How To Prepare Your Home For Winter
Your outdoor furniture will last a lot longer if you store it and keep it put away in the colder months. If you don’t have a shed or garage that you can store your outdoor furniture, you can always use a charge and Bungie cords to protect it from the outdoor elements.
Change Your Air Filters
By changing your air or furnace filters often, you will keep your system in excellent condition for a while. Changing the filters also keeps the heating and air in your house a lot fresher even before you turn them on and use them for the winter. Make sure to take a look at your old filter to make sure you get the correct size for your house.
Seal Gaps
Check around your house for any gaps that animals could crawl into and hide out during the harsher weather. Look for smaller holes and extensive gaps that can become an issue, and use heavy-duty hardware to keep them at bay and protect your house.
Stock Up On Supplies – How To Prepare Your Home For Winter
Right before winter hits, you might want to stock up on supplies you’ll need, especially if your region gets a little colder. Make sure you have shovels and ice scrapers, check the emergency kits in your car and home for any items that might be running low or expired, and purchase additional fuel for any appliances that might need it.
Add Weather Stripping
Applying weather stripping around your doors and windows will help keep your house warmer and cut your energy cost. If you think, certain areas of your home get a draft, apply the stripping to lock in the hot weather and keep your home and your family warm for the winter. The weatherstripping can easily be purchased at any home store and is easy to apply.
Doing these fall maintenance chores and prepping your house for the winter will only help set you up for success during those colder months. Although you might need to spend a little extra time or money doing this, it will save you a lot in the long run and make you feel a little safer in your home.
