It is time yet again to prepare for another season. As summer comes to a close, fall provides changes in temperature, weather, and scenery.
Fall is marked by dry, cold, and rainy weather. Because of these irregularities, it is important for you to prepare your home to keep you safe.
Fall also provides the final chance to check the overall condition of your home before the harsh winter. The colder and harsher winter conditions will not provide you with easy opportunities to fix the outside of your home when something gets broken.
This is a significant time for you if you live in a state with long winters that last for more than two months.
Here are five tips you can do to prepare your home for the fall season.
Fall and winter will have colder weather, so you have to make sure that warm temperature stays within your home.
If you do not have a thermostat for your house, this is the perfect time to install one and make sure it works. Buy an energy-efficient thermostat so you can use it for the whole day without increasing your electric bill.
Insulation is also essential for controlling temperature. It makes sure that the warm air stays inside and the cold air stays outside.
Check all of the windows and doors of your house for cracks where air might pass through. Apply caulk at the edges of your windows if you think that air still comes in through shut windows.
Wash your gutters outside to prevent water leaks. If left unattended, leaves from trees stay there, and rainwater will not drain properly. Water leaks can damage the exterior and interior of your home and your roof.
Lastly, check your chimney and clean it up for future use. If you hear irregular sounds or if its insulation is inefficient, consider having a professional fix and clean it.
Furnace filters must also be cleaned with a vacuum to increase insulation, save more energy, and for clearer air passage.
Changing seasons also means changing outfits. It is now time to revisit your closets and wardrobes to switch into warmer clothes and additional layers of clothing.
You can start by bringing out all of the clothes you have. It will feel like general cleaning as you need to reorganize them after grouping.
Group your similar clothes. Chances are, the ones with the same groupings will either be stored or used together. Tank tops will be stored while coats will be hung.
Do not forget about socks, shoes, and coats that you may have stored in your storage last season. Wash them to make sure that they are ready to use on rainy days or colder weather.
If you no longer plan to use some of your clothes, you can set them aside for donation or reselling.
Organizing your garage will once again involve cleaning and disposing of unneeded items.
Check all of the things in your garage. See what you still need or do not need. You will have a harder time moving around near your outdoors once it gets cold outside.
You may have stored some of your fall decorations in the garage. After cleaning, you can start moving them out of your garage to prepare for the changing seasons.
As for your outside appliances, your HVAC or thermostat unit can use some cleaning before experiencing rainfall again. Clean the filters to ensure efficiency and adequate insulation for your house.
Your outside pipes must also be cleaned to guarantee proper water flow. Have them replaced if you think they might break because of the colder weather. Pipes usually break due to harsh cold weather or long exposure to snowfall in the winter.
Take a trip to your roof to do the same. Make sure there are no breakages or cracks so that rain will not enter your house in the fall.
You can examine the attic for the interior part of your roof. If you have not visited your attic for at least a year, it is advised that you give it a general cleaning as well. Attics can be an entry point for rain, cold air, and even pathogens. It is not suitable for insulation or overall safety.
Check your staircases, driveway, and pathways for damages. Visibility decreases once it rains or when it snows in winter. Unfortunate accidents may happen if these are left unattended. It would be hard to fix these outdoor problems in colder weather.
While you are outside, check around for outdoor furniture and bring it indoors. Save these items for summer. Rain and hurricanes during the fall season may break this furniture.
You can put them in storage for now or give them new functions during autumn.
You should apply fertilizer before the fall season because harsh weather is not suitable for the soil. The fertilizer acts as protection for the soil for spring and summer.
You can also start planting spring-blooming seeds on some part of your lawn during fall. This is the only time you can do it to bloom just in time for spring.
When fall does come around, make sure to rake the leaves for disposal. Leaving fallen leaves on the ground suffocates the soil and prevents absorption of sunlight.
Fall indicates changes in the season and weather. Because of the changes, you must prepare your home for its effects.
The first thing you must ensure is to control your home’s temperature. This can be done by purchasing a thermostat and ensuring that your house remains insulated.
Then, you can check your wardrobe and change it with warmer clothes. It is time to add more layers of clothing as it becomes colder outside.
Have a thorough inspection of the exterior of your home. Check your garage, roof, outdoor appliances, and pathways. You want to make sure that everything is in good condition. Repairs during colder weather will be harder to do. Make sure you bring in your outdoor furniture inside as well.
Lastly, make sure you apply fertilizer to your lawn to protect your soil. Prevent fallen leaves from covering them as it blocks the sunlight from passing through.
