5 Tips To Prepare Your Home for Fall

The end of summer is right around the corner, so it won’t be long before leaves change their color to beautiful shades of red and orange, pumpkins line neighborhood streets, and the cold, brisk air of an autumn night returns to our lives. With fall comes colder and less predictable weather. The kind of conditions that can cause structural damage to your home or property if you’re not careful. But fear not! We’ve compiled a list of six things you can do to prepare your home for fall’s upcoming drop in temperature.

Clean Your Gutters

For starters, cleaning out your gutters is a great way to start your fall preparations. You don’t want any more fallen leaves and debris to clog up your gutters, which can cause external water damage to your roof or internal leaking. So, grab a pair of gloves, hop on a ladder, and clear out all the foliage collected since your last cleaning (or hire a pro)!

Store Outdoor Furniture

Although your outdoor furniture might’ve been marketed as able to withstand all weather conditions, that doesn’t mean you have to put their word to the test this fall. Store your summer-living furniture in your garage, shed, or basement so you can be certain it’s ready to go for next summer’s barbecue.

If you don’t have any space for your furniture right now, avoid any torrential downpours or unexpected snowfalls by placing a protective covering, such as a tarp or waterproof casing, over the furniture and secure the items in place. You can purchase outdoor covers for fire pits, tables, chairs, sofas, and even the hot tub.

Seal Doors and Windows

If there is a gap or slit somewhere in your home’s windows or doors, you’re letting the heat you paid for, literally, fly out of your home. As your parents probably said to you at some point, you’re not paying to heat the entire neighborhood, so save your money by picking up some weatherproof sealing to fill in any gaps.

Install a Programmable Thermostat

Installing a programmable thermostat is both affordable and easy to do on your own. Control your home’s heating and cooling while you’re on the go with a programmable thermostat. Set the temperature in each room with just a tap on your smartphone. You’ll save money in the long run by turning down the heat while you’re out and about this fall.

Inspect Your Furnace

You’ll want your furnace functioning in tip-top shape during the upcoming chilly months, so right now is the perfect time to have an expert perform a check-up. But there are also some things you can do in the meantime to extend your furnace's lifetime.

For example, you can replace your furnace filter. A furnace filter collects dust, and over time, it needs to be cleaned. Most can be vacuumed, but if it’s a disposable filter, you might need to replace it after one or two cleans. Conversely, you can easily wash a metal filter until it’s as good as new.

Fall, Here We Come!

Hopefully, the tips above will get your home primed and ready for fall weather. While they might seem straightforward or insignificant in the grand scheme of things, why risk any unnecessary headaches? Perform these safety and money-saving precautions now for successful seasons to come!