Five Ways To Get Your Home Ready For the Fall

Now that it’s finally livable outside, it’s tempting to step up your play — only one or two more months of cookouts, basking by the pool and tending your garden. But don’t forget one other important set of activities before the leaves are gone: getting your home ready for winter.

Some people love these annual chores and some people loathe them, but they have to be done. There are plenty of things you could do, but here is our list of the absolute non-negotiables.

Clean and Inspect Your Gutters

Cleaning your gutters is not just about picking the dead leaves out of them (although that is an important aspect of it). Clearing out your gutters allows you to see how many asphalt granules are in there. There will likely be a few, but if it coats the bottom of your gutter, your should be aware that your shingles are wearing out. These granules are what give shingles their weight and heft and what blocks UV damage.

You will also want to correct any sags and make sure that they are still sloped in the correct direction. You can check this with a garden hose if necessary. While you are up there, take the opportunity to…

Inspect Your Roof

There’s nothing quite as reassuring as getting up on the roof to see for yourself how it’s faring. Take notice of any cracked or curling shingles. These are signs that your shingles are beginning to fail.

Check around the chimneys and flashing to see if there are any loose shingles. These are the most common places to have problems, but they’re not unheard of elsewhere. Just keep your eyes open.

Check The Attic For Leaks

You’d like to think that if you don’t see a leak, it’s not happening, but that’s not always the case. Leaks can be small, or they can drip into walls or other unnoticeable spaces.

In full daylight, go up into your attic and see if the sun shines through anywhere it isn’t supposed to. If you do spot a hole, patch it with tripolymer elastomeric caulking, which will bond with the shingles — and seriously consider whether it’s time to replace your roof. Where there’s one leak, there will likely be more.

Change Your Furnace Filter

Hopefully it is already in your routine to check the filter monthly, but it’s best to change out your filter before the furnace kicks on for the first time. Speaking of furnaces, when was the last time yours had a checkup? It might be wise to get it inspected.

Seal Doors and Windows

Energy is not getting any cheaper, and it’s a crying shame to have all that warm air streaming away through cracks around the windows and doors. On a breezy day, do the rounds of the house with a candle and a caulking gun. Wherever the candle wavers, you’ve got a draft. Seal as you go, and repeat annually.

That’s all there is to it to get your home fully prepped for the blustery, wet fall weather. On those miserable days when the grill is put away, you’ll be glad you took these steps.