When Fall weather approaches, there are many to-dos for homeowners before the change of season! So, before football season is in full-swing and homework dominates the evening, we’ve prepared a checklist to help you get your home ready for the coming seasons and weather change.
1. Prepare Windows
Remove the screens from your window and clean the windows with recommended best practices. Removing the screen will allow for more natural light and solar heat to enter your home. It also protects your screens and sill from damage and debris.
2. Clean Gutters
Remove all the leaves, branches, and debris from the gutters and downspouts. It’s recommended to clean them once in the mid-fall season and follow up in early winter to ensure there are no blockages allowing proper drainage, which can prevent damage during freezing temperatures.
3. Sweep Chimney
Experts recommend having your chimney swept before the start of the home-heating season. This ensures your fireplace is in safe and working order. It is important as buildup can cause a chimney fire or impede proper ventilation.
4. Replace Furnace Filter
It is recommended to replace your furnace filter to ensure comfort and efficiency of your home’s HVAC system. A dirty filter can restrict air flow, hurt your health, reduce HVAC system’s lifespan and increase your maintenance costs.
5. Turn Off Outdoor Water
Prevent unnecessary damage to outdoor plumbing by turning off water, removing hoses and splitters from the spigot. Winterize your pipes to prevent potential long-term damage caused by pressure and ice build-up. Freezing pipes can burst at weak points resulting in the need of a plumbing overhaul.
6. Test Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors can wear out and batteries die. It’s important to test them regularly to ensure your home is safe and they’re in working order.
7. Install Doors & Windows
Sealing the drafts of windows and doors while limiting outdoor air flow can be a real money saver in the colder seasons. Installing a storm door has been proven to increase energy efficiency by over 40 percent. Paradigm Windows products provide excellent thermal performance and don’t require additional storm panels or other barriers to effect increased thermal efficiency. Better insulation, lower energy needs and a warmer household mean a happy season!