As autumn approaches, it’s especially important to prepare your home for the weather ahead. Weather patterns shift dramatically during this time of year. It’s important to prepare your home to withstand all types of climate conditions.
Cooler temps & unpredictable weather requires you to ready your home for fall
Here are four ways to prepare your home for the upcoming fall season.
Seal around Your Windows and Doors
Windows, and doors, tend to have cracks, as well as other openings, around their edges. Many are not easy to see. Heat inside your home can escape through these gaps while cold air filters into your interior. This might make it more difficult to keep your interior warm. It could result in higher utility bills. To seal these openings, apply new weather-stripping, as well as caulking, around the edges. Consider getting new doors, or windows, if any openings are too big to seal with materials.
Tune Up Your Heater
Just because the heater in your home worked fine last fall, doesn’t mean it’ll be up to snuff for the upcoming season. If you don’t know how to inspect your heater properly yourself, you should hire a professional HVAC contractor to look over your unit and perform any necessary repairs or updates. It’s also best to have the filter, and other components of your heater, cleaned. It’s important to remove the dust, dirt and germs that could negatively affect your indoor air quality.
Have Your Gutters Cleaned
Whether you choose to do this chore yourself, or decide to hire a professional, cleaning your gutters is one of the most important steps to prepare for autumn. Clogged gutters cause water to overflow, then spill down the side of your home. When this happens, your siding and foundation can become damaged.
Make Sure There’s Enough Lighting
The fall season has shorter days and darker skies; make sure you have adequate lighting to see clearly in and around your home. Test all your light fixtures and replace any burnt-out bulbs. If you want to use the limited natural sunlight in the fall to brighten your interior, cleaning your windows can help give you the full effect. It’s also important to have adequate outdoor lighting around your home’s front entrance and walkways so that you’ll be able to see better in the dark.
Getting your home ready for the fall will make it easier for you to get through the season with fewer problems. By performing the necessary maintenance and making any other important changes, you can enjoy living comfortably in your home from the beginning until the end of autumn.
About the Writer: Kara Masterson is a freelance writer from Utah. She enjoys Tennis and spending time with her family.
