How to Prepare Your Home for Fall

Published: September 13, 2016

Summer is coming to a close, which means no more trips to the beach, transitioning to back to school, and time to start getting your home ready for fall! As the seasons change, so do the needs of your home and yard to ensure everything keeps running smoothly. Here are our tips for what to do to get your home ready for fall.

1. Have Your Furnace Inspected
   Consult a professional to inspect your furnace to prepare for cooler weather. Make sure to check for leaks and for carbon monoxide to ensure that the air it’s circulating is safe.

2. Test Your Smoke Detectors
   Do a battery check on your smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and any other safety devices to ensure they’re all charged up and ready to go in case of an emergency.

3. Winterize Your AC Units
   Depending on what part of the country you live in, you might consider covering your outdoor air conditioning unit for winter (if you have central AC). If you use window units that don’t have a heating capability, consider removing them covering them to prevent leaks and drafts from coming in while the machine isn’t in use.

4. Check Your Roof
   This is especially important if you live in a climate that is known for getting a lot of snow. You want to make sure you roof is sturdy and durable enough to withstand the weight of the snow you’re likely to get in the fall and winter months. Check for any loose or missing shingles and clean off any debris.

5. Clean Your Chimney and Fireplace
   If your home has a chimney and a wood fireplace and you plan on using it at all in the fall and winter months, it’s important to have it cleaned and inspected by a professional. This will help prevent fire and carbon monoxide build up and make sure your fireplace is working efficiently.

6. Clean Your Gutters
   The changing of the seasons means more leaves will be shed from trees and likely start to build up in your gutters. Be sure to clean them out regularly or install gutter guards to prevent leaves from building up in your gutters!

7. Fertilize your Lawn

Fertilizing your lawn in the fall helps to prevent winter damage, which means you’ll have fewer weeds to deal with in the spring.

8. Clean Out Your Garage

It’s time to start switching out all of your spring and summer equipment and furniture for their fall counterparts. Fall is also a great time to go through everything that’s accumulated over the summer—pool toys, summer gear, etc—and store anything you won’t use until warmer months.

Need a place to store your belongings while you do a little fall cleaning? UNITS can help! Contact us for a free quote.