Even though the weather is still warm we all know Fall will be here soon. Now is the time to get your home ready for what comes next, winter! Here are some practical steps you can take to make sure you transition to colder weather without any issues and hopefully will save you some money.
- Clean your gutters—If you did nothing else to prepare for the rain and snow, cleaning your gutters is the most important thing you can do to prepare for winter. Leaves, pine needles, sticks and all kinds of debris collect in your gutters over the summer. Cleaning them out ensures that you avoid flooding your roof or getting ice dams that can damage your roof and siding.
- Drain your outdoor faucets—This will prevent burst pipes and is well-worth the small amount of effort it takes.
- Fix the cracks in your driveway—Cracks in your driveway collect water, the water freezes and pushes the cracks wider apart. Untended, cracks in your driveway will cause greater damage over time. Fill in cracks with concrete filler that you can find at your local hardware store or online.
- Change your filters—Changing your furnace filters every month is a good practice that will help keep your furnace going for many years problem free. Clogged filters make your furnace work harder, stressing out the fan as well as causing other problems.
- Change batteries—Every Fall put new batteries in your thermostat, smoke alarms, and your carbon monoxide detectors.
- Have your chimney cleaned—Creosote and ash can build up and become a fire hazard. The heat from a wood fire can get as high as 1100 degrees Fahrenheit. Have a professional chimney sweep clean and inspect your fireplace every Fall.
- Prepare your garden for spring—Before the snow flies, fertilize and aerate your lawn. This will help your lawn come back greener in the spring. Fall is also the time to plant bulbs for some early spring color too!