Get Your Home Fall Ready!

Fall has to be one of our favorite seasons. The leaves are all starting to change color, the weather is getting a little chiller and soon all the fun of Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas will be arriving! When those days have started to disappear, then it is time to think about how you can make sure that your home is ready for fall, and ultimately for winter too. But what are the things that you need to think about? To help you make sure that your home is fall-ready, we have put together our top tips for the things that you need to look at and make sure are ready to go. Have you air conditioning unit and heating unit serviced Whilst you may not be using your air conditioning for a few months, chances are that you are going to need your heating. Early fall means that the weather is still relatively warm, so you won’t need to turn on your heating just yet. This means that it is the ideal time to get an expert in to check over your heating unit. After all, the last thing you are going to want is to find that it doesn’t work when you need it the most! Check for any drafts Another reason that you may find that you feel the chill during the winter is because your home is a little on the drafty side. It is a really good idea to try and locate and fix any drafts that you have. An easy way to do this is to go around all the windows and doors and feel the edges, if you are not sure what you are feeling for, then take a candle with you. If the flame flickers when placed near to a seal, then chances are that there is a draft there. Whilst drafts are relatively easy to fix, you can also buy heavy curtains for those windows that are really letting the chill in. Invest in a programmable thermostat When it is colder outside, we are much more likely to use our heating. This means that our energy usage and bills is going to be much higher. If this is a worry to you, then one thing that you can do is to invest in a programmable thermostat. These allow you to set the temperature to different levels during different times of the day. You can lower it at night when you are safely tucked up in bed and lower or turn it off when you are going to be out of the house. You may be surprised by just how much money these can save you. Protect your air conditioning unit During the winter your air conditioning unit isn’t going to be used, which means that you need to protect it. If it is outdoors then you may need to cover it, and if you have a detachable air conditioning unit that is placed in a window, then now is the time to remove it and store away for the winter. Turn off your outdoor taps and store your hoses Chances are that you are not going to need your hose or outdoor water supply during the winter. If this is true then you should make sure that you drain out your hoses and disconnect them from any outside water source. You should also make sure that you turn off any exterior faucets and store your hoses in a place where they won’t be at risk of freezing. Give your garden a makeover Whilst the weather is still warm enough to spend some time outdoors, it is a great idea to make sure that your garden is fall-ready. There are a variety of things that you can get done. Inspect all the trees to make sure that they are not damaged, trim the bushes, shrubs and flowers back and make sure that you rake up all the leaves that may be lying around and get them in the compost. You can also prepare your garden for spring by planting any bulbs so that they are ready to sprout when spring comes around. You will also want to make sure that you bring in any flowerpots from outside too. Don’t forget the shed During the fall and winter your garden is going to need an entirely different set of equipment to the summer. So, if your shed is looking a little messy, then it is a really good idea to get out there and tidy it up. Move back the things that you are not going to need until next year and bring forward the tools that will get you through the colder months. Close up the pool If you are lucky enough to have a pool in your garden then it ensure that you have someone booked in to come and close up the pool for winter. Some pool owners will know how to do this for themselves, however if you are not sure, then it is a good idea to have a professional come to do it for you. Get your summer equipment serviced Whilst you are sorting out the shed and moving around the equipment, it may pay to organize someone come out and take a look at it all. This includes your lawnmower and trimmer. Both of which may need some work on them to ensure that they are ready to face the spring. Give your gutters a clean When the leaves start to fall off the trees there is one part of your house that is likely to feel the brunt of it, and that is your gutters. During the summer months your gutters usually stay relatively clear of debris, but as the leaves start to fall, chances are that they are going to end up in your gutters, clogging them up and making drainage all the trickier. Take a look at your roof The last thing that you are going to want is to find that your roof is leaking and broken when the weather turns. So, get up on your roof and make sure that everything is nice and clear, you will be really pleased that you made the effort to check when you are warm and cozy inside your home. Make sure that your chimney is clear During the fall and winter you are much more likely to turn on your heating and even light up the fire. This means that you need to make sure that your chimney is clear. Otherwise you could find that you have a problem when you need to use it if it happens to be blocked or clogged. Drain your sprinkler system Much like your outdoor tap, if you leave your sprinkler system out during the fall and winter, then it is a good idea to drain it. This makes sure that you don’t end up finding that it is frozen, or even worse, damaged when the spring and summer comes around. Change the air filters in your heating system Over time your air filters can become clogged and this can make your equipment less efficient. Not to mention damaged too. To make sure that your heating system is working the best that it can, it makes sense to ensure that you change your air filters as well as drain out all the pipes too. Insulate your pipes If you have any pipes that are exposed to the elements then it is a good idea to find out ways to insulate them. Exposed water pipes can freeze when the winter comes around and this can lead to them bursting. Not only are burst water pipes messy but they can be expensive to fix too. Also, imagine how you would feel if you had to do without hot water during the winter months. Not the nicest idea in the world! As you can see, not only do you need to make sure that your wardrobe is ready for the fall, but your home is too. There are plenty of things to think about and make sure that you do, but once the colder weather hits, then you can be sure to feel grateful that you took the time out to do them all!

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