Spruce up your home this fall season with some of our easy tips to make your home more cozy, beautiful and welcoming for the long holiday season to come! Plus learn some simple maintenance tips that will make a huge impact for your home!
Photo: Harold Leidner Landscape Architects
Fall is officially here, which means that the leaves are turning, people are gearing up for the holiday season, and it’s time to complete some last minute to do items before the temperature drops and fall turns to winter. Here are some chores you may want to include on your list to keep your home in beautiful condition as we ease into cooler weather.
Look Up
People often forget about their home’s roof, loft insulation, chimney, and gutters because they’re not at eye level. However, keeping these important pieces of your home is vital for its infrastructure and can help prevent water, ice, and other damage to your home. Start by cleaning your gutters of any leaves, twigs, or other debris that may have built up over the summer months. Gutters with a clear pathway allow water to flow freely away from your home, which protects your foundation from water damage. You should also spot check your roof for any cracks, holes, or tears that may be present. If you notice anything, have it repaired right away so winter weather doesn’t make it worse and cause leaks inside your home. A lot of repairs you can do on your own, and you can even order supplies online from stores like build4less. If you plan to use your chimney throughout the winter, you may want to have someone come clean it out to keep it clear of debris, which can cause a chimney fire.
Photo: Rikki Snyder
Complete Final Lawn Maintenance
Once winter weather arrives, chances are you won’t be doing much lawn maintenance. Making one last lawn care effort should be on everyone’s fall home maintenance list, as it prepares your landscaping for the winter months. Decide what you want to do with your leaves. Some people rake and bag them while others choose to mulch them, which can provide your soil with extra nutrients.
Photo: Mary Prince Photography
Insulate
Having a well-insulated home can not only help keep you and your family warm during cold weather months, but it can also save you money on your monthly utility bills by reducing the amount of energy you need to heat your home. Caulk and use weather stripping around your windows and doors to block out drafts. If you have energy-efficient windows, inspect them to ensure they’re still in good condition and don’t have any gaps. Head up to your attic to inspect your insulation. If you can see the joists in your attic, chances are you don’t have enough insulation and should add more.
Photo: Gil Walsh Interiors
Service Your Furnace
Fall is a great time to have your furnace inspected before you turn it on for the winter. Call an HVAC professional and request an inspection and cleaning. Regular servicing can keep your furnace running efficiently and help reduce your monthly heating bill and even help prolong the life of your unit.
[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”#eb8d09″ class=”” size=””]Tip: Make sure you have your filters replaced regularly as well to improve airflow, keep energy costs low, and keep your system running efficiently.[/perfectpullquote]Check Your Plumbing
The last thing you want to happen is to have a water line freeze or burst in the middle of winter. Prep your pipes by wrapping them in insulation, which can not only provide peace of mind knowing your plumbing is protected, but can keep your plumbing running efficiently. If you have any hoses outside, detach and drain them so they don’t freeze and cause damage.
Maintaining a thorough fall maintenance checklist can help keep your home in great shape. Most of the tasks take a weekend to complete and can save you a lot of money in the long run in costly repairs.
