Your Fall Home Checklist: How to Get Ready for a New Season

The weather is beginning to turn yet again, and the western hemisphere is gearing up for fall. You may be ready to snuggle up with some blankets and welcome the chillier weather. But first, you should make sure your home is ready for the coming cold.

Here is your fall home checklist to ensure that you and your family stay snug and safe throughout the season and well into winter.

5 To-Do’s You Should Include in Your Checklist

Complete these tasks and your home will be ready for whatever the weather may bring throughout fall and winter.

1. Check and Test Your Safety Devices

The risk of fire in your home is greater in colder months if you use space heaters, your fireplace, or are burning lots of candles. Be prepared for any emergency and make sure your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are working properly.

2. Inspect the Gutters

Your gutters have been working hard all summer if you’ve had lots of storms and showers. Do a quick visual inspection to make sure there aren’t any blockages (like large twigs or branches). Also make sure the seals around your vent pipes are holding up. If you don’t feel qualified to check the gutters yourself, hire a professional. Don’t forget to get them cleaned out after all the leaves have fallen.

3. Get Your Furnace Maintained

It’s a huge inconvenience to have your furnace fizzle out in the midst of freezing weather. Get it checked and inspected before the weather turns. This way, you’ll have peace of mind that it will keep running and keep you toasty warm no matter what.

4. Change Your Bedding

Say goodbye to cool, crisp sheets and welcome cozy flannel ones instead. These retain heat better so you can turn down your thermostat at night to save money and sleep better.

Also, consider pulling out extra blankets for the beds, and put out some throws in the living room in case you catch a chill.

5. Remove Window AC Units

If you use window AC, leaving the units in your windows over the winter can be a huge drain on your energy bills. It’s best to take them out so you can fully close the windows and save heat.

If you can’t take them out, purchase protective, insulating covers and securely attach them before it gets cold.

Use a Fall Home Checklist and Be Ready for Winter

Completing your checklist ensures your home is secure and snug against the coming winter.

Early fall is the perfect time to do everything you need to do to batten down the hatches, as the weather is ideal. Get it all done ahead of time. Check off each box. And you’ll be able to sit back and relax, worry-free, when the winter winds come to howl outside your windows.