For many areas, fall is a time of mixed emotions. Fans of fall embrace the cooler temperatures and beautiful colors, while sunbirds are sad to officially say goodbye to summer. Whatever your emotions may be, there are fall home prep tasks that need to be done to prepare your home for the change of seasons.
Keep reading for fall home preparation tips.
Indoor Home Preparations
There are a few tried and true tasks that should be done at this time of year. They aren’t quite as fun as adding fall colors, leafy wreaths, and warm, cozy blankets, but they are necessary.
1. Check for Drafts
Lock all windows for the fall and winter seasons. Inspect areas that may be drafty, such as around windows and doors. Try holding a candle near the area. If the flame flickers, you’ll need to insulate that area to prevent further drafts. This can be as simple as investing in under-the-door insulators/sealers.
2. Change Filters
Although this shouldn’t just be a seasonal thing, you could be spending more money than necessary if your furnace filter is dirty and clogged. Depending on the type of filter, you may be able to vacuum and reuse it at least once. Use this time to check and change the filter.
3. Furnace Maintenance
It’s a good idea to give your furnace a tune-up before the heating season begins. This will ensure everything is working properly or give a little extra time to order parts or schedule service if necessary. You want to make sure your furnace will keep your family comfortable through the fall and winter months.
4. Mudroom / Entryways
Fall brings with it rain, mud, wet leaves, and eventually snow, slush, and ice. Get your mudroom and entryways read with plastic mats for wet shoes and boots to protect your floors. It also is time to arrange and make room for the warm weather accessories.
5. Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detectors
This is the time of year (daylight savings time for those who observe) that residents are encouraged to test their smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to ensure they are working properly. Whether they’re beeping or not, consider changing the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. You never know when you might need them.
6. Home Office Workspace
Consider the heat efficiency of your home office. Is it a drafty space? Are there any other heating loss concerns? Think about what you need to do to keep your space comfortable so you can be your most productive self. This might look like window plastic to keep drafts at bay, a throw blanket for your legs, or a small space heater.
7. Ceiling Fans
In any type of weather, ceiling fans are useful in preventing stagnant air and keeping you comfortable. In the summer, they should spin counterclockwise to push the cool air down. In the colder months, switch the blades to rotate clockwise to keep the air moving and prevent cold pockets. This is also a great time to dust off the blades.
8. Throw Rugs
Wood, tile, and laminate flooring can be a sharp reminder that colder days are here. Putting a throw rug in strategic places can help eliminate that jolt without needing to keep it covered year-round.
Outdoor Home Preparations
Taking time for fall home preparations will protect your home and save you money by preventing avoidable damage. Here are 8 things you can start now that will your home fall-ready in no time.
1. Outdoor Furniture
Now is the time to wash and wipe down any outdoor furniture that needs to be stored for the winter. After it has fully dried, fold up (if necessary), hang up, and store it indoors away from the elements.
2. Garden Equipment
Drain your hoses before storing them for winter. If they have water in them, it will freeze and expand. This may split open your hose which will cause a leak and cost you money for a replacement.
3. Auto Essentials
Your car kit needs to be prepped for cold weather. It should include things such as a window scraper, flashlight, multi-tool/pocketknife, water, snacks, energy bars, phone charger, blanket, extra hat, and gloves.
4. Snowblowers
Check that your snowblower is in good working order before you need it. Having extra gas, oil, charged batteries, or a clear path to an outlet will make easy work of clearing the snow.
5. Lawn Mowers
Turn over your mower and clean any grass or leaves from the bottom. Whatever method you use to handle the gasoline left in your mower, now is the time to take care of it before winter storage.
6. Lawn Prep
Fall preparation for your lawn will ensure the healthiest lawn come spring. Fertilizing your lawn is best done before the last cut of the season. Grassroots will store the food over winter and use it next spring. The last mowing of the season should be the shortest cut. Setting it to 1 ½ to 2 inches will allow for sunlight to reach the new growth in spring.
7. Plants & Flowers
Fall garden prep will make spring beautiful. Now is the time to prune back any plants, shrubs, or bushes you have. Plant any spring bulbs now so you can reap the benefits when the ground starts to thaw.
8. Gutters
Clear gutters and downspouts of leaves, small branches, and any other debris that has settled. Completing this task while everything is dry makes for easier going. You don’t want to let wet leaves collect, freeze, thaw, freeze again and clog your gutters and downspouts. That can lead to more costly damage.
Garage & Shed Preparations
Fall is the perfect time to organize your garage and shed for the winter season. Ensure your rakes and snow shovels are within arm’s reach as well as your snow blower and salt. Bring out winter fun tools like ice skates, snowshoes, snowboards, skis, shoe ice grips, fort-block-makers, and hockey sticks.
Need help pulling it all together?
Let Dennise help you with creating flow and function in your lives this fall. Click here to set up your free consultation with Organized MD today!