It’s not too late to prepare your home for the fall, and eventually, winter weather! Addressing these tasks early on will help prevent issues later on in the season. Most of these tasks are things the average homeowner can complete without professional assistance. Regular home maintenance not only keeps your family healthy and safe but also supports your home’s value, making it easier when it comes to selling in the future.
5 Tips To Prepare Your Home For Fall Weather
- Check for drafts near doors and windows
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, 25 – 30% of home heating energy is lost through doors and windows that are not properly sealed. Checking and replacing weatherstripping where needed around doors and windows can help!
Weatherstripping needs regular repair, as it wears over time. Replacing weather stripping is a somewhat easy task for homeowners and pays off in heating and cooling bills. It is easily the most cost-effective way to decrease energy bills.
- Change air filters
Your home’s air filters may be easy to forget as they are out of sight, which may be costing you more money than it should. Add it to your list now while you prepare your home for cooler weather. Why is it important to replace air filters?
- Regular maintenance of air filters extends your HVAC system’s longevity and quality, saving you money in the long run.
- A filthy air filter allows dust and allergens to travel throughout your home, damaging your health over time. Replacing the filter is a quick and easy way to improve air quality in your home.
- A clogged HVAC system needs to work harder, increasing your energy use and cost. This could also put too much stress on the system, causing it to fail and need service/replacement.
You may also consider scheduling a professional for maintenance on your heating system. Heating systems often fail on the coldest days in the winter. Don’t wait until then to get service. Save time and money by scheduling during fall maintenance.
- Schedule fireplace maintenance
Making sure your chimney has been cleaned during fall preparation will keep you ready to light your fireplace when temperatures start to freeze!
When soot builds up in your chimney, it can:
- increase your risk of a chimney fire
- increase the presence of carbon monoxide in your home by not allowing it to escape when you have a fire burning in the fireplace
Oftentimes while fireplaces aren’t in use during the warmer months, chimneys can become blocked with bird nests or other debris.
Be sure to call in a professional chimney sweep this fall season.
- Check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
October is Fire Safety Month! Fall is a great time to test each of your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and change the batteries. While you’re there, vacuum out any dust or build-up you notice inside the detector.
Confirm there is at least one smoke and carbon monoxide detector on every floor of your home, including the basement.
- Disconnect hoses from outdoor spigots
It is important to disconnect your hoses from spigots on your home before the first freeze. In middle Tennessee, the first freeze usually falls around October 23; but could occur earlier or later.
This will prevent freeze damage to spigots and pipes over the winter and help your hoses last longer. If water freezes within the hose or spigot, it can result in a burst pipe. Many times, homeowners don’t even know any damage has been done until the Spring!
Performing these simple fall home maintenance tasks will give you a great start to keeping your home safe and ready for cooler weather!
If you have already prepared your home for Fall weather and you’re looking to list your home, we would love to help! Take a look at our Marketing Plan that describes how we at Team Rockensock take the steps necessary to sell your home competitively.
