20 Ways to Prep Your Home For Fall and Avoid Costly Repairs in 2021
20 Ways to Prep Your Home For Fall and Avoid Costly Repairs.
The first day of fall is drawing near. As the nights get colder and days shorter, preparing your home for the coming months can make a huge difference for your comfort and pocket book. Here is a 20-item check list to get your home ready for the cooler months.
Furnace:
1. Change Your Furnace filter
Clean air is a must in the cooler months and changing your furnace filter will improve air quality and will also help your furnace run more efficiently.
2. Hire a PROFESSIONAL to tune-up/ inspect for gas leaks
While you are on the subject of your furnace, go ahead and have it tuned up and checked for leaks. This will help avoid leaving your family in the cold this winter.
3. Chimney inspection
Fall is a great time to sit by the fire, and a chimney inspection is a great idea. You never know what may have collected there over the summer and will mitigate potential damage to your home.
4. clean your air ducts.
Cleaning out your air ducts is never a bad idea and will improve your air quality immensely. Hire a professional to clean out ducts and vents and you will notice a difference all winter.
Outdoors:
5. Wipe down and bring in outdoor furniture
You can keep your outdoor furniture in better shape for longer by bringing in your cushions and anything else easily damaged such as planters or glass tables.
6. Drain sprinklers
Drain your sprinklers and hoses to bring them inside to avoid damage during the winter.
7. Clean out gutters
Clogged gutters have the potential to freeze and cause interior and exterior damage. Make sure those gutters are clear to avoid blockage and potentially costly repairs.
8. Trim your shrubs
Many may not think of this, but trimming your shrubs and other plants can save you a ton of time this spring.
9. Weed your garden
While you are trimming your shrubs, go ahead and pull those weeds you have been neglecting all summer. Trust us, you will thank us in the Spring.
10. Rake leaves and debris
You may need to do this later in the season, but raking or blowing your leaves will avoid a mess once the snow melts.
11. Plant grass
The best time to plant grass is in the cooler months and will help produce a more dense and thicker lawn. If you have patchy areas, go ahead and prep and plant.
12. Roof inspection
Have your roof inspected to catch any potentially costly repairs before they become a problem.
13. Check foundation for cracks that need attention
Another expense that can be costly are foundation cracks. If caught before the freeze you will potentially avoid major issues.
14. Check driveway for cracks
With expansion and contraction, you may have hairline cracks in your drive. If you catch these now you can have them repaired and a avoid potentially expensive replacement.
15. Plant spring flower bulbs
Plant your spring bulbs before the freeze and you will have a lovely blossoming garden early spring.
16. Pressure wash siding
Pressure wash your siding once a year to keep your home looking fresh and new.
Windows/ doors:
17. Replace screens with storm doors
Replacing screens with storm doors will help with energy costs and keep the draft out.
18. Seal areas around windows and doors
Sealing around windows and doors will also help with draft and you can even caulk around areas where it is worn or missing to improve on energy costs.
Deep cleaning:
19. Organize and clean out your garage
Since you will be bringing in quite a few items, this is the best time to clean out your garage. Get rid of or donate unwanted items to make room for your patio furniture, tools and any other items you choose to bring in.
20. Drain fuel from and put away summer tools, test winter tools such as snow and leaf blowers.
Leaving gas in mowers and other tools may potentially damage them and is also a safety hazard. Drain your summer power tools and store them. Once you do this, you can rotate them to snow and leaf blowers.
Enjoy the fall.
Now that you are ready for fall, go ahead and grab a mug of hot cocoa and watch the leaves change with peace of mind.
About the Author:
Jenna Raus is the Business Development Manager of
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