Has the change in the weather got you Googling “How to prepare your home for Fall and Winter?”
Yes you’re smart to be thinking of preparing your home for the cooler weather because not only will you save money, you’ll also be protecting your home and your family.
On that note, here are the 6 must-do tasks for every homeowner as they prep their house for Fall and Winter.
1. Clear Out the Fireplace and Chimney
Start by clearing out the fireplace and removing any charred wood or ash that may have collected, especially if you used the fireplace during the summer.
Also make sure that the damper is working and flue is closed so that heat doesn’t leak out and that the flues are operating properly too. You may be surprised to find a bird’s nest at the top of an open flue so yes, make sure that you check thoroughly.
For chimney cleaning, I’d recommend hiring a professional cleaner or chimney sweep who can also give your fireplace a thorough check.
2. Clean the Gutters and Drain the Faucets
Inspect and clean the gutters to prevent clogging. Clogged gutters can damage the exterior or flood your basement and trust me, you don’t want either of those happening when the weather gets chilly.
Clean the gutters by scooping out all the leaves and debris and then install mesh guards to keep them clear as well.
Outdoor faucets called silcocks and in-ground irrigation systems need to be drained and shut off so that they don’t freeze and burst.
3. Inspect the Roof and the Driveways
Now is a good time to get on the roof and inspect it for leaky vents, broken shingles or corrosion and then, hire a professional to fix it for you. Fixing a potentially leaky roof when it isn’t raining or snowing is much better than trying to find the source of the leak when it does get cold, windy and rainy.
Do the same for the driveway and look for cracks, loose railings and uneven sections on the sidewalk and steps. Icy weather can be quite dangerous when you have an unsafe driveway or steps.
4. Change the Batteries in your Smoke Alarms
Does your area’s Fire Department run a “fire alarm battery change” campaign when Daylight Savings kicks in?
Even if it doesn’t, now is a good time to check your battery operated smoke alarms and the electrical ones. Replace the batteries and test all alarms to make sure they’re working.
5. Check the Heating System and Ready the Water Heater
Replace or clean the filters for your centralized heating system. Also test the heating system by turning it on and clear out any dust buildup as well. Remember to stay out of the house and also air the house when you get back in.
6. Fall Homekeeping Basics
Now is a good time to do few housekeeping tasks to make sure that the transition to cooler climes is easier for everyone:
- Bring out the winter bed linen- quilts, comforters, blankets. Bring them out, clean them, air them and get them ready for us.
- Wash the windows and dust the baseboards, walls and ceilings.
- Give your upholstery a cleaning and replace the light summer curtains with heavy winter ones to keep out drafts and also, add warmth to the décor.
- Remove screens and store them {after labeling them so you remember which one goes where} and replace them with storm windows.
So, there you have it. A ready reckoner of everything you need to get in shipshape form for Fall and Winter.
When do YOU start preparing your home for the cooler temperatures?
About Prerna:
Prerna Malik is the owner of The Mom Writes, a site that offers smart solutions to work-at-home moms. When she isn’t blogging for a living or running a social media agency with her husband, she’s baking cupcakes with her daughter or organizing a closet in her home. Download her free eBooks on organizing and productivity for busy mom entrepreneurs today!
I’ve already started changing batteries around our home so I can be pro-active instead of reactive.
The changing of the seasons is a great reminder to make sure to change the batteries in smoke detectors. We have seven of them in our home so its a chore, but also a necessary one 🙂
Yay!! Being proactive always pays off!! Thanks for sharing Joyce!
Thanks for the handy tips! I definitely must change the batteries in my smoke alarm.
Thanks for commenting. Here’s to a fab fall season 🙂
You’re most welcome Marielle! Glad you liked these tips and yes, do change those batteries!! 🙂
Yay for this checklist. I have already done a lot of stuff to prepare like checking the heating and changing the curtains, but forgot about the batteries for the smoke alarm. Thanks!
Really wonderful tips and ideas! We have moved to our new house just before the winter starts – in the beginning of December. We had to prepare the house for the cold months but it was really difficult to do that because we moved there so recently before the winter starts. It would’ve been great if I have found your post before the move! We were lucky that the heating system is working great, the roof seems to be in perfect condition, too. Thanks for the post! 🙂
These are some really great tips for anyone who owns a home! I know all too often you get caught off guard, and the first day you need your furnace is not a good day to be making sure it works. But I had never thought about clearing the dust out of the ducting system, I’ll have to make sure I do that this year. Thanks so much for writing!
I like your tip to consider hiring a professional chimney cleaner. A professional chimney sweep have the proper tools for the job. Plus, like you said, they’d be able to check the chimney for any issues that need fixing. Thanks for all the tips.
Wow..
What a lovely post. It is important to be proactive with the change in season. Great ideas communicated from your end to prepare your house for the winter season.
Replacing or cleaning the filters for the centralized heating system is a must. I never thought of changing the batteries in smoke alarms. It is a handy thing to do. Thanks a ton for sharing your useful thoughts..
Regards;
Ajdak
Renovations also increases your home’s value when you decide to sell it.
Hey Danyelle,
Absolutely will take your tips. Great post there! Will bookmarked this. Such an informative tips for home improvements. Thanks for sharing!
Cheers,
Oliver
I appreciate your post, the checklists are very useful 🙂 Thanks for sharing the informative post
these are really useful tips, i will keep in mind all tips so when heading the winter i will make sure all would be done from my end. Thanks for sharing!
You have created a handy checklist of home maintenance tasks that need to be completed this month, Thanks for the post.