Prepare your home for the season and keep everything running smoothly as the temperatures drop

Fall is almost here and we are over the moon. Not because of the hordes of pumpkin spice lovers that will come out of the woodwork. Not because Halloween will come sooner than we can expect. But because fall means cooler weather. Cooler weather also means changes around the house and outside the house. So this week we’re looking at what changes you can make around your home in order to prepare for fall. 

We'll start by taking a tour outside since the weather is still warm. 

Exterior/Outside

• Clean and Inspect Gutters

You will want to clean and inspect your gutters. Summer rains can be crazy as we all know and it leads to a lot of wind blown debris on top of your roof and in your gutters. Which isn't a problem, at least until it's blocked by ice and that causes cracks, or tearing away from your house. And those issues then cause water damage.

So for this one the best time of year to do this is spring and fall. Spring to catch anything that winter tossed onto your roof and fall to catch any issues from Summer.  

• Check Roof for Damage and Clean Debris

While you're up there and looking at your gutters, you should also take a look around at your roof. You want to check for any damage and get rid of any debris while you're at it. As we mentioned summer in Texas often means hail and high winds so it's better to check now. This ensures that your roof is ready for winter weather and you can schedule any repairs if they're necessary. 

• Trim Trees and Shrubs

You'll want to contact an arborist, tree trimmer, or landscaper to take a look at your trees and shrubs. Although we try to keep up with our lawns during summer we don't always pay as much attention to trees and bushes. If you take care of it now not only does it keep any branches from causing damage during a storm, it also keeps vegetation away from the house which helps to keep out pests. 

• Inspect and Seal Cracks in the Foundation

Once your back down on the ground, take some time to walk around and look closely at your foundation. You want to look for any cracks that have formed due to heat and settling. This is again another preventative measure before we head into winter. Not only will you stop mold growth, you can also stop water from seeping in and causing Foundation damage. Just as the water in your freezer will expand, it will expand in any cracks in your foundation. Over time this will cause deeper cracks and breakage which is a massive trouble.

• Winterize Outdoor Faucets and Sprinkler Systems

During the summertime, you have probably taken the time to care for your lawn, keeping it well-trimmed and watered throughout the summer. Now, you may have done this with a simple garden hose and faucet on the outside of your house, or you may have a sprinkler system built outside to make the task a little more hands-off to keep you out of the heat. However, these pipes run the same risks as those inside your house, and may burst when exposed to freezing weather. So, while the weather is still warm enough to go work on them, it is a good idea to take some time to winterize these systems so you can avoid a costly burst and water leak out into your yard.

• Store or Cover Outdoor Furniture

Sitting outside and enjoying some time on your porch, or having a table outdoors for cookouts is a great thing in the summertime. However, these pieces of furniture, while pretty robust, are not made for harsh conditions and extreme weather. With that in mind, it will usually be best to store them in a shed or a garage until the springtime, or, if you don’t have the ability to do that, cover them with some sort of tarp or weather-proof sheet to keep them safe from ice, freezing rain, and snow during the coldest months of the year.

• Check Weatherstripping on Doors and Windows

Your home’s electricity bill is usually driven up by whatever climate controls you have in the house. Air conditioning during the summer and heaters during the winter can seriously impact how much you have to shell out on your utility bill. With that in mind, you should take the time to check your weatherstripping so that you can save as much as possible. Often, the seals on your doors and windows will be made of rubber, since it offers the best protective sealing for its cost. But, with it being near those openings, it also degrades over time, and will need some fixing or replacement every now and again. A little work to fix your weatherstripping now can save a lot on your utility bills later!

2. Garage

• Organize and Clean the Garage

Summer projects mean a lot of things coming in and out of the garage, and sometimes objects haphazardly thrown in just to get them out of the way for a bit. While it may seem daunting, taking a day or two to organize and clean the garage will help you out a lot when it comes to getting ready for wintertime. It can open up room for you to store things like mowers and outdoor furniture, and it makes it to where there’s less nooks and crannies for pests to hide when they decide that your house seems like the perfect way to get away from the cold. Cleaning the garage now means you’re far less likely to have mice later on in the winter!

• Inspect Garage Door and Lubricate Moving Parts

Your garage door is something you probably expect to just work, regardless of the situation. Like all machines, though, it has some natural wear and tear over time. Checking it out and making sure it’s maintained can save you some headaches when the first freeze of the season hits, or, if you lose power during the wintertime, it makes sure you can still manually open and close the garage with relatively little effort. Just like the rest of this list, a little work now will save you a lot of headaches in the long run.

3. Kitchen

• Deep Clean Appliances (Oven, Refrigerator, Dishwasher)

Doing a deep clean of your appliances is something people usually think of when it’s time for spring cleaning. However, it is just as important and useful to do some cleaning before winter sets in. It’ll help your machines run more efficiently, once again saving you money on that all-too-important utility bill, and helps prevent nasty odors coming from something when you’re cooped up in the house during the coldest months. With that in mind, though, we’d like to bring special attention to the oven in particular. Chances are, you’re going to be running the heater, and trying to make good warm meals whenever you can. Taking the time to deep clean your oven can reduce the chance of any fire hazards, which is of the utmost importance when you’re going to be actively trying to warm up the house.

• Check and Clean Range Hood and Filter

Similar to our last paragraph and its focus on the oven, we would like to bring up the hood over your range. Checking out the air filter in it, and replacing it if needed, can help you a lot when it comes to preventing any grease buildup. Once again, this is done in the interest of fire safety, with an additional bonus of improved air quality in the home, which is hugely important when you want to stay in instead of braving the weather outside.

• Inspect and Replace Water Filters

There’s a good chance you won’t be going to the store as often during the winter. Be it because you just don’t want to toss on a coat, or because the roads are iced over, going and getting things like bottled water can be a hassle deemed not worth it during the frigid depths of wintertime. So, while you have the chance, make sure to check your water filters. Whether you have a filter pitcher, a filter for your sink taps, or a water dispenser on your fridge, it’s good to check them and switch out the filter media if you need, to make sure you have good, clean water for the winter.

4. Living Room

• Clean and Inspect Fireplace

Let’s face it, you probably haven’t even looked at your fireplace since the weather warmed up back in the springtime. However, with winter approaching, you’re going to need to use it again, and you don’t want to take the risk that it’s stopped up with soot from last winter. So, take the time now to clean the fireplace, and inspect it for damage, that way it works safely and you can live with the ease of mind that brings.

• Test Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

With central heating, fireplaces, space heaters, or all three turned on in the winter, the risk of fires is going to be higher than normal. This is simply a fact of life with the season. So, taking the time to make sure that your home’s safety equipment is working correctly is best done now, before it is needed. When it comes to things like smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, ease of mind and the safety of you and your household take precedence. Test them now well in advance, and you can rest easy knowing that should a disaster occur, your safety equipment is functioning and keeping you protected.

5. Bathrooms

• Check for Leaks and Inspect Caulking

Water damage is never fun to deal with, and when it comes to things like your bathroom, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, especially during the winter months where water leaks are a higher risk than normal. A little time spent checking the caulking in your bathrooms can help a lot in the long run, and help prevent you and your home from having to deal with things like water damage, mildew, and mold during the winter.

6. Bedrooms

• Rotate and Flip Mattresses

Rotating and flipping your mattresses is a good practice to help keep your mattress from having  divots and uneven wear from how you sleep. While we’re doing work to get the house ready for winter, it wouldn’t hurt to go ahead and make sure your mattresses are flipped and rotated, just to go ahead and get the chore out of the way for a while.

• Test and Clean Ceiling Fans

• Why: Prepares fans to run in reverse for winter, helping to circulate warm air.

• Chances are, you’ve been using your ceiling fans during the summer. However, now is a good time to make sure that, if they can run in reverse, they’re able to do so without issue. As well, take the time to clean the dust from them, that way when you run them in reverse to help circulate warm air through the room, they’re not also spreading dust around.

7. Attic/Basement

• Inspect Insulation and Ventilation

The attic is often a warm and dry place during the summer, what with the sun beating down on it all the time. However, it’s still good to check that it is insulated properly, as a cold attic can cool the entire house, which isn’t great when you’re trying to keep everyone warm and happy. As well, an improperly insulated attic can have more issues with moisture buildup and leaks, causing slow but significant damage to your home.

• Check for Pests

Pests will want to come into your house during the wintertime. Simply put, if it’s cold, they’re going to find whatever hovel they can hide in. With critters like rodents and termites being risks, this is something you want to catch early before it becomes a serious issue. Go ahead and take the time to check for pests now, and take appropriate measures to ensure they’re all gone before the winter hits. If there are already critters in your home, chances are, they’re going to have a lot more friends come in during winter.

8. HVAC System

• Replace or Clean Air Filters

As the weather cools down, it’s easy to overlook the importance of clean air filters. However, clogged or dirty filters can force your HVAC system to work overtime.This drives up your energy costs and puts unnecessary strain on the system. Plus, with temperatures getting cold, you’ll be spending more time indoors, and good air quality is essential.  By replacing or cleaning the filters now, you’ll ensure your system is running efficiently and your home has cleaner air. 

Schedule a Professional HVAC Inspection

Before winter hits, it's crucial to make sure your heating system is ready for the demands of the colder months. Scheduling a professional HVAC inspection now can save you from costly repairs down the road. A technician can catch any small issues before they become big problems, ensuring your system runs smoothly and efficiently when you need it most. Plus, no one wants to deal with a broken heater on a chilly day, so it's better to be proactive and prepared.

As fall settles in, taking care of these essential maintenance tasks will help keep your home cozy, energy-efficient, and ready for the colder months ahead. From improving air quality to safeguarding against costly repairs, a little preparation now can save you time, money, and headaches when winter arrives. And remember, if you need help with any appliances along the way, our team at Appliance Rescue Service is always here to ensure your home runs smoothly, no matter the season.

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Additional Reading
Halloween Horrors In Your Home? 

Taking the Pain Out Of Melted Plastic

Why Does My Oven Keep Flipping the Circuit Breaker?