Finally, fall is here! It seems like summer (and the heat) have last forever. Who else is looking forward to sweaters and pumpkin spice lattes? Fall being around the corner means you only have a few weeks left to make sure your house is fall-ready. Here are the top things you need to do to keep your home safe this autumn.
1. Make outdoor repairs. Now is the time to walk around the outside of your home and see what, if any, repairs need to be made before the weather turns cold.
2. Including outdoor lights. The days will start getting shorter and you don’t want to get caught in the dark as you try to unlock your front door. Check all outdoor lights and replace any burnt out bulbs.
3. Clean out the gutters. Once most of the leaves have fallen from the trees, you’ll need to clear them out of your gutters. The last thing you want during major storms is water damage because your gutters were clogged.
4. Check your sprinkler system. It’s smart to winterize your sprinkler system which involves out all the water from the pipes in your irrigation system. This isn’t typically a do it yourself kinda thing; you’ll probably want to call in a professional.
5. Check for drafts. Check edges of windows and doors to see if you feel any air (a good tip? Light a candle and see if the flame flickers). If you find anything, replace seals and repair caulking as needed.
6. Check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Remembering to check these at least once a month can be a struggle, so test them now to make sure they still work (then add a note to your calendar for to check the following month). If you have one that’s ten years or older, you’ll want to go ahead and replace it.
7. Reverse ceiling fans. Once the weather finally cools of a bit, go ahead and reverse the direction your ceiling fans are running in to ensure that warm air near the ceiling circulates through your living areas. Plus, doing this can save you up to 10% on heating costs!
8. Clean your chimney. If you have a chimney, then it’ll have been several months since it was last used and there will likely be built up tars and toxins. Cleaning these out will help keep your home safe from fire. Also, if you don’t already have a cap, you may want to add one to keep out any critters looking for a warm place to hang.
9. Check your furnace. heck for ignition issues, pilot light health and clean up any dust or grime. If you see anything that concerns you arrange for a professional inspection. Also, while you’re here change out the filters!
10. Vacuum items like grates, baseboard heaters, and radiators. Like your chimney these haven’t been used in awhile which means dust has probably built up. You’ll want to get rid of that before revving up any of these so you don’t have dust blowing around.
11. Clean your dryer vents. Cooler, drier weather that comes with autumn can increase static electricity in your vents which can then ignite your dryer lint resulting in a dryer fire.
Preparing your home now before the temperatures drop will keep you and your family safer in the long run (as well as save you money!).
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