How to Prepare Your Home for Fall

1.     Winterize Your Air Conditioning

Outdoor central AC units should remain cleaned and winterized to ensure maximum use for the future. Start by removing any leaves, twigs or grass clippings that have accumulated over the summer. You can use a garden hose to rinse the outdoor air conditioner, removing droppings, bugs, dirt, etc. Once you allow the HVAC unit to dry completely, cover it with a waterproof air condition cover and you’re good to go!

2.     Clean Out The Gutters

This is very important! You’ve kept those gutters clean all summer and now it’s time for one last clean out before the winter. Clogged gutters have the potential to channel water down the side of your home where it could eventually damages the foundation or flood your basement. If getting a ladder out and cleaning them out yourself sounds like too much work, hire a company to do it – it’s worth it!

3.     Fertilize Your Lawn

This may seem a little confusing given that the summer season is over and the color of your grass starts to immediately fade to brown. But according to some experts, fertilizing your lawn in fall helps to protects it over the winter. It’s also said to help it green up faster come springtime.

4.     Inspect & Clean Your Chimney

A good chimney inspection will help to protect your home during the winter and to prevent anything you don’t want coming in through your fireplace like soot, smoke, or even worse, carbon monoxide! Even gas fireplaces need an inspection to ensure the pipe is free of cracks that can potentially allow smoke into your home.

5.     Test Home Safety Devices

Although this should be done regularly, it’s good to do this just before the weather starts to get cold. Start by replacing the batteries in all smoke detectors and carbon monoxide devices, then test to ensure that they’re working properly.