Fall will be here before you know it. With the change of the seasons comes the cooler weather. Don’t get caught off guard! Before the seasons really change, there are a few things you need to do to get your house in tip top shape and prepare your house for fall.
5 Easy Steps to Prepare Your House for Fall
Change your air filters
The air filters do just that – they trap dirt, pollen, allergens, dust, and all that other weird icky stuff that’s in the air. They need to be changed at least a few times a year. It sounds so simple, but you’ll really be amazed at how much more efficient your heating and cooling systems can be.
Fire up the Furnace
Fire up the furnace before the first really cold spell sets in. This way, you can burn off the dust and debris that has accumulated during the spring and summer. You know that burning smell when you turn the furnace on the first time? That’s the debris that’s settled. You’ll also be able to find out if there’s anything wrong with your heating unit. If there is, you can get it taken care of now, and not when you’re freezing.
Clean out the gutters.
One of the big things to prepare your house for fall is to clean your gutters. Clean the leaves, twigs and other debris out of your gutters. You need to do this so that the rain and snow has somewhere to go, and the runoff doesn’t cause other damage. If you don’t want to clean your own gutters, you can get someone to do the job.
Check for drafts
Let’s prepare your house for fall and get it weather tight. Check to see if you have any drafts in your home. If you do, now is the time to seal them with a little bit of caulk and some weather stripping. Be sure to get the areas around your windows and doors.
Test your alarms
Test your smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, security alarm and whatever other alarms you may have. Make sure they’re in working order. This is also a great time to change the batteries.
With just a few easy steps, you can really prepare your house for fall.
photo credit: Sentō-gosho Garden, Kyoto Fall Colours and Early Morning Mist via (license)