Although it’s nice to have a bit of relief from the heat when autumn begins, you may want to begin to worry about some of the things that can go wrong with your home in the upcoming months. With weather a bit wetter and icier during the autumn and winter months, you may find more damage around your home than you’d like. Luckily, there’s a few things you can do to prevent the weather from costing you a whole lot of money. These ten tips will allow you to check out some of the major causes of damage in and outside of your home, so you can cheaply make repairs or take proper precautions to stop the problem in its tracks. After checking out your home, you may find it a lot easier to enjoy the new cool air and beautiful foliage.
1. Roof Inspection
There’s nothing worse than a leaky roof, especially when it comes to your budget. This is especially true during the months in which it rains and snows more often. A leaky roof during certain months can lead to lots of damage that can cause you to have to leave your home or spend a whole lot of money for repairs. More often than not, it may even be impossible for workers to get to the damaged area, which can cause so much more damage. Thus, before the weather sets in it’s important to get your roof inspected. You can easily hire someone to do this, but if you don’t want to spend the money you can do it yourself. There’s lots of online tutorials that will show you just what to look for as well as how to fix loose shingles. By taking these precautions you’ll save your roof and so much more during the autumn and winter and you won’t have to stress about the damage all of the moisture can cause.
2. Weather Stripping
One of the worst things for your heating bills is actually your windows and doors. Before the weather gets too cold, you may want to turn off all fans and heating or cooling devices in the home. Once you’ve done this begin by feeling around the doors and windows in the home. If you feel any air coming through, then it may be time to invest in some weather stripping. This can be cheaply purchased and is simple to install on your own. You can also caulk around the area to help knock out some of the air flow. If you have a home with old windows then you might actually have to replace the wood around the area. This takes a bit more skill, so you may want to hire a professional. Of course, you can also look up tutorials for this job online and try it out for yourself.
3. Carbon Monoxide
During the winter, there are many dangers in the home that can cause your family harm. Carbon monoxide is one of the biggest factors you should consider. With the windows closed your family could be more at danger than during other times of the year. Not to mention, some older heaters could contribute to the problem. So, if you don’t already have carbon monoxide detectors in your home then now is the time to get them and install them in various areas of the home. Most of these detectors simply plug into the wall, so placing them in the home won’t take long at all. If you do have carbon monoxide detectors, then switch out the batteries and do a check to make sure they are working. This should help put your mind to ease while keeping your family safe.
4. Clear the Gutters
No one likes cleaning out the gutters, which often means it builds up and builds up. This can be a huge problem during the winter months as all of the debris can freeze over and bust your gutters. Not to mention, during the autumn months even more leaves are going to fall and wind up in your gutter. Thus, you may want to keep on the gutters while the weather still permits it. You can also use a chemical to help you keep your gutters cleaner for longer. Always be as safe as possible when clearing the gutters though. You should look at the trees near your home too to ensure they will not fall on your gutter and leave it damaged during the seasons that your home needs the drainage more.
5. Attic
When it comes to the cold months, you should take to your attic as soon as you can find the time. There’s a few things to keep in mind when it comes to your attic. The first is you should do is check for any signs of animal life. Rats, bats and you name it could be hanging out in your warm home, which could lead to some pricey problems later on. For instance, some animals can carry diseases, which can spread to the family. Animal feces and the possibility of the animal dying in the home can also cause problems that will create a stench in your home and could pass bacteria to the family. Animals tend to chew and can mess with your electrical. Of course, if there are animals in your attic then you may need to figure out how they got in as this could lead to some insight as to other areas that need to be fixed. Another thing to consider is what the insulation looks like in your attic. You may need to swap the insulation out in order to keep your home warm. Don’t stress out though as this shouldn’t cost a fortune and you can even do this on your own to save even more money.
6. Paint the House
A lot of people tend to think summer is the best time to paint a house because of the weather. However, you may want to push the new paint job off until it’s closer to the autumn months. A new paint job will make your home look warm and inviting for the holidays, which is sure to bring joy to your guests while also making your holiday décor look fabulous. There’s a greater reason to enjoy painting the house closer to the autumn months. With a new paint job your home will be protected from water damage, which will ensure you won’t have to spend thousands to clear it up when the wet months are over.
7. Wrap Pipes
One of the biggest causes of damage during the winter months is pipes freezing, but you can easily remedy this problem. One of the best ways to do this is to wrap your pipes if they’re outside or in your basement. You can do this simply with blankets and tape to help save on some money. You can also check out heating tape if you like a cleaner look. A burst pipe can leave your budget under water, so this is a crucial step to take when it comes to winter freezes. You can also leave your water slightly running on the coldest of nights to help prevent this from happening too.
8. Swap Filters
Since the home will be closed up most of the time, you may want to take this time to change out your house’s filters. You should start with the filters in the heater to ensure safety when you fire it up to warm up the home. This is also a great time to find a filter that will help reduce bacteria, germs and allergens in the home. This will not only help your family stay healthier, but it will also make your home feel more comfortable. Once you clear out the filters you should move on to your air purifier and humidifier. This will allow you to be prepared for a wide variety of illnesses that the kids pick up in school. If you have more items that require a filter, then work on it too. It’s must easier to keep track of filter changes by the season too, which will help keep your items function for longer.
9. Winterize Outdoor Faucets
Another item that is often overlooked is the faucets outside. It’s hard to think about the gardening supplies when the lawn goes into hibernation, but it’s important to take good care of this area too. Before the water gets cold you should unscrew and put away any water hoses you may have. Then you should drain the faucet and turn the nozzle tight to ensure no water will leak. If you can, you should cover the faucet itself, just like you would other external pipes. This will help prevent the faucet from bursting or simply breaking during the big freezes that occur during the cold months. You should also make sure your sprinklers are shut off for the duration of the season. If you have installed sprinklers in the yard, then turn the water off at the main valve. External sprinklers should be unscrewed from their water source and stored away.
10. Clean the Chimney
If you have a chimney, then you know how awesome it can be in the cold months. The fireplace provides a great source of warmth that will cut down on your power bills and bring a wonderful feeling to the home. Of course, if your chimney isn’t clean then it can lead to some major problems that could really cost you a whole lot of money. Minor problems would include slight damage to the fireplace itself, but you could wind up catching the home on fire if you’re not incredibly careful. Thus, getting your chimney cleaned is a crucial move in the winter time. You can hire someone to do this for a reasonable price, but you could also do it yourself. Of course, you can also keep your chimney clean by burning cleaning logs throughout the winter months.
Early autumn is the perfect time to get ready for the long months ahead. These ten tips should help you get your house in order, so you won’t end up dealing with repair bills when the snow finally leaves. Now, you can actually enjoy all of the amazing aspects of the season, rather than concentrating on the stress of the season.
