HOW TO PREPARE YOUR HOME FOR THE FALL SEASON

Although it doesn't quite feel like it yet, Fall is just around the corner. What better time to start prepping your home for the weather to come? We've gathered the most important Fall home maintenance tasks to get you and your home ready for this next season.

MAKE SURE YOUR ROOF IS IN GOOD SHAPE

Inspect for missing and loose shingles. Ice, rain, snow and wind combined with rapidly changing temperatures and humidity wreak havoc on roofs. Your roof is your first defense in protecting your home. Without it functioning properly, water damage can occur. This causes deterioration to insulation, wood and drywall, making electrical, plumbing and HVAC systems vulnerable.

CLEAN OUT YOUR GUTTERS

It’s good to clean out your gutters every season, but it is most important to do before fall hits because you don’t want them to get clogged. All of the leaves on your trees will fall and these can easily get stuck in your gutters and cause damage if the weight becomes too heavy.

FIX ANY CRACKS IN YOUR DRIVEWAY

When water gets into cracks it freezes, expands, and can make the crack even bigger. Enough small cracks can turn into big cracks, and eventually the concrete can crumble. You would prefer a driveway without a giant pothole. So, using concrete crack sealer, fill it up and be done with it.

SEAL UP AIR LEAKS

A home with air leaks around windows and doors is like a coat left unbuttoned. Gaps in caulk and weatherstripping let cold air into your warm home, and sealing up a drafty house can save up to 20% on your heating bills, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

FERTILIZE YOUR LAWN

You know what they say: The best offense is a good defense. If you want to keep your lawn looking great in the spring and summer, you need to prep it for the fall and winter. Roots are still active when the grass isn't growing, so applying fertilizer will prevent winter damage.

HAVE YOUR FURNACE INSPECTED

Hire an HVAC professional to test for leaks, check heating efficiency, and change the filter. They can also do a carbon monoxide check to ensure air safety. It’s also a good idea to stock up on extra air filters and change them every few months.

SWEEP YOUR CHIMNEY, AND CLEAN YOUR FIRE PLACE

This is an extremely important check that you need to do before the start of the fall season. Creosote is a very high flammable substance that builds up inside the chimney as a result of burning wood and it needs to be cleaned out for your safety and energy efficiency. Before you get the fireplace up and running with your marshmallows, your fireplace also needs a thorough cleaning. Make sure there are no nests from spiders, and clean out all the leaves that may have fallen into the fireplace area.

PUT SEASONAL FURNITURE AWAY

A lot of homeowners forget to store their summer patio furniture before fall. While this may not be a problem for drier regions, homes that experience a lot of rain should contemplate putting their seasonal furniture away before fall hits. This could potentially save you a lot of money and from needing to replace your outdoor furniture next year.

INSPECT YOUR SCREENS AND WINDOWS

Fall is the perfect time to throw open windows and let fresh, cool air inside before the days get too chilly. But you should check your screens first to make sure they are aren't warped or bent. Large spaces encourage curious insects to enter your home. This is also a good time to check your window weatherstripping to make sure the felt is intact and not letting any drafts through.

Fall is right around the corner. With it comes dropping temperatures that can damage your home. How are you preparing your home for this transition from summer to autumn?