10 Important Things to Prepare Your Home for Fall

Fall is coming. The weather will change and to make sure you are comfortable and safe, your house may need a few touches to protect you and be protected from cold. These are simple procedures that, with not much work, will prevent bad surprises from happening and spoil your fun during the cold seasons. These 10 simple tips will make your house comfortable and problem free for the fall.

1. Store your outside furniture

Summer is over. You will not be grilling anything until at least the next spring. No one will want to seat outside on this weather, when it is much more comfortable to be inside enjoying a hot beverage. Why leave your furniture outside, exposed to the weather, taking damage from the cold and rain? If you cannot find a place for it in your garage or in any room, make sure to cover them while they wait for the return of hot seasons.

2. Check damage on the roof

Summer rains may have done some damage to your roof. It may have to endure some heavy rains during fall and maybe even some snow during winter, depending on the region you live in. Check to see if there are not any big holes, pieces missing, or if the roof in general needs some reinforcements, and get them fixed. Discovering any problems later and having to fix them while it is cold outside is a problem we want to avoid.

3. Check your gutters

While you are checking the roof for any damages, go ahead and check your gutters as well. Are they clean? Can they handle heavy flows of water? During a cold season, heavy rains may cause flooding and leaks in your house if all the water cannot be drained to a place where it cannot cause any damage. Keeping your gutters clean is important to do that and avoid having water sitting on your roof more than it should.

4. Check your pipes

This is the third tip on this article concerning floods or leaks. Why? Flood or leaks can be a pain during warmer seasons, but they are the absolute worst during the cold ones. The water takes more time to try, raising the risks of infiltration compromising your walls, ceilings or floors, even after you drained most of the water. So, check your pipes and see if any of them needs to be wrapped with heat tape. While at it, check to see if you have any outside plumbing that needs to be drained, since you are not going to use it for at least two more seasons. The cold may cause water inside the pipes to freeze and plumbing damage is no joke.

5. Check if any landscaping is needed

The trees will become weaker during the next seasons and this may offer some dangers. Are there any branches hanging dangerously close to your house of even on the way you car needs to pass to go the garage? If the answer is yes, know that they might break when facing the rains and winds of fall, so you might have to trim them to avoid any accidents. If you have a garden, do not forget to check how to trim and care for them so they can stay healthy during fall and winter.

6. Check your heating system

The cold seasons are almost here, so better check your house’s heat system before you have to use it. In addition to simple checks like seeing of the heating system is working, if the thermostats are regulated and if your vents are clear, not being blocked by any furniture, check the furnace as well. It accumulates dust and, when dirty, can become quite inefficient in heating and even a fire hazard sometimes. Clean it, replace any old filters, and check the motor and the blower.

7. Prepare your fireplace

Have a fireplace? This is the time to use it. It can help warm up the house and set that cozy fall mood. Before lighting it, though, make sure it is clean and, if needed, remove any leaves, nests, debris and even animal that may have thought it would be a good idea to make the fireplace their home. Extend the cleaning to the chimney and, while at it, consider ways of protecting it from leaves, animals and other things that may clog it. Do not forget to stock up on some wood if you intend to use it.

8. Check smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors

Since your are preparing to use your fireplace, do not forget to check your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. The first is a safety measure for fires, while the second is a safety measure to ensure the quality of the air you are breathing, and the two are very important in any house (more so in a house with a working fireplace). Make sure that your detectors are all working and change their batteries for new ones, just to be safe.

9. Prepare your windows and doors

Before fall, it is very important to check windows and doors. These two can be major sources of heating loss, so you have to make sure they are sealing properly and that they are not damaged. Check for cracks on the glasses, holes on the wood, widows and doors that might not be closing entirely or that still show drafts when closed. With heavier winds and rains, you might want to consider reinforcing them as well.

10. Dress you house for the weather

Light sheets and curtains are a blessing on summer, but for fall you may want to dress your house in fabrics that can warm you up. Consider hanging heavier curtains and exchanging your cotton sheets for flannel ones. While at it, remember to check your mattress and flip it if needed. Wool blankets are great for maintaining heat and being comfortable.

This is the perfect time for a leather sofa as well, as they can warm up the place. Use blankets to make your inside furniture more cozy. You can do that by covering your couch with a nice blanket, doing the same for armchairs and benches.

Conclusion

Yes, your house may need a little work to be ready for the fall. But with this list, with simple tasks that involve almost no effort, you can make your house damage proof and more comfortable for the cold seasons in an organized and efficient way. After that, your only worry will be finding a nice spot to enjoy your favorite fall treats inside.