With fall quickly approaching, many people are rushing outside to enjoy the last few days of summer heat before the leaves turn colors and winter rolls in. There is still a while before you have to worry about raking the yard, but you should be thinking about prepping your home for cooler temperatures.
Your home is a valuable asset so keep it in good shape and operating efficiently. Check out these tips to get your home ready for the fall!
Tune Up Your Heat
As soon as cooler temperatures come in, your first instinct will be to turn your heat on. Make sure that your heating system is adequately prepared to be used almost constantly by having your heating technician come in and check it out. This easy visit won’t cost you very much and will let you know if you need any repairs, as well as measure carbon monoxide leakage.
It’s best to do any repairs now instead of later so you won’t be without heat come Thanksgiving!
Clean Your Gutters
Cleaning your gutters will help you in the fall and later on in the winter. Leaves can build up each year, which makes your gutters unable to drain any rain or snow that might accumulate in that area. Having clean gutters also eliminates ice build up in the gutters possibly causing damage to the gutter or water to leak into your home.
Inspect Your Roof
The worst time to find out that you needed to repair your roof is when it starts leaking. Take some preventative measures and look at your roof while the weather’s still warm and your roof isn’t leaking. Replacing shingles, adding insulation, or replacing the flashing around your chimney are pretty simple fixes that you will be thankful you didn’t put off!
Test Your Sump Pump
If you live in a low area where rainfall is heavy, your sump pump probably will need to be tested before fall begins. Slowly pour a few gallons of water into the sump pit to see whether the pump turns on. If it doesn’t, you may need to refer to your owner’s manual or bring in an expert to see what the problem is.
Sweep Away Your Chimney Problems
For the many people that have and use a chimney, getting it cleaned once or twice a year, before and after the winter, is a good idea. Having a chimney sweep come in will also ensure that there is no damage to the chimney or your vents and that you will be good to go when it comes to burning the Yule log!
These are a few vital checkups that you should be doing on your home at least once a year. The sooner you get repairs or small fixes done, the better off you’ll be in the long run. Once your home is all set for fall and winter it will be time to get out and enjoy the weather!
