6 Essential Projects to Prepare Your Home for Fall

Changing seasons mean changing needs for your home. Make sure you take care of this to-do list before fall gets in full swing.

1.        Reinforce Pest Control

You’ll notice that the presence of spiders and other annoying seasonal pests will be on the rise. While they don’t mean any harm, it’s never fun to walk through a spiderweb, and you’ll want to avoid being bitten. Contact a local Best Pick in pest and termite control to ensure that your home is prepared for the newest surge of pests.

2.        Examine Windows and Doors for Drafts

With cooler weather coming in, you’ll need to make sure your home is losing as little heat as possible. Some air drafts can be easily detected, but if you want to be sure you’ve covered every nook and cranny, you can get a professional to inspect your house. An inspection could save you up to ten percent on your total energy bills, which you can put toward your holiday shopping budget.

3.        Change the Filters

The fall season ushers in fall allergies, so keep the air in your home as clean as possible. Pollens and other allergens will have built up on your current filters, so now is the time to replace them. Remember to check your dryer’s lint filter every time you do a load—it will help you save electricity and, by extension, money. Filters in humidifiers will need to be changed out as well so that they don’t keep cycling the same allergens you’ve been trying to reduce for the past few months or breed harmful mold and bacteria.

4.        Check for Gutter Damage

With all those falling leaves, your gutters will catch enough debris to cause problems even when they’re in good shape. If they’re in poor repair, fixing them is going to cost you more money. Make sure they are in working condition before they start to take on the added weight of leaves and other debris. If you think your gutters might need some work, contact a local Best Pick to help you out.

5.        Buy Backup Gasoline or an Alternate Power Source

In the event of an emergency, you’ll want to have a backup source of power. Buying gasoline for your generator or other power source is an easy way to be prepared, but make sure you keep it out of reach of pets and young children, and store it away from the hot water heater.

6.        Have Your Chimney Inspected

Making sure your chimney is usable before you light your first fire is important for your home’s health, and if it’s been a while since you used it, you might want to schedule a chimney and fireplace inspection. An improperly maintained fireplace can cause house fires, bad-smelling smoke, and less-than-optimal efficiency. If you’re searching for a more efficient way to heat your home, look into alternatives like a gas fireplace or a pellet stove.

Preparing for fall might seem like a daunting task amidst all the hustle and bustle of your daily life, but you don’t have to do it on your own. Contact a professional to help you with the fall projects that you don’t feel comfortable doing yourself.