5 Tips: Getting your house ready for the new season.
 

It's the unofficial end of summer. While you may be caught up with other things, like getting the kids ready for school, it's important not to neglect your home.

Early fall is the time of year to prepare your house for the cooler weather just around the corner. Most people know to clean their gutters and seal openings around windows that can leak heat. But there are other less obvious measures you'll need to take to keep your home in tip-top shape inside and out.

Here are today's 5 tips on getting your home ready for Fall:
 

1. Crank the heat.

You forget your heating system when it's summer. But believe me, you'll notice if it doesn't work right in the winter.

It's extremely important to make sure your heating system is working correctly and safely. It’s recommended to have a heating and cooling specialist look over your system every few years at this time.

If you have a forced hot air system, your heating and cooling systems use the same filters. If they're dirty, filthy air will be circulating around your home. Filter changing is something homeowners can and should do themselves.

2. Prevent trouble down below.

There may also be things that need attending to beneath your property. Your underground sprinkler system needs flushing before the cold sets in.

The process involves blowing air into pipes to displace leftover water. This is important because water lines are typically only 6 to 8 inches below ground -- and prone to freezing. If they freeze and then burst, you could have a costly repair situation on your hands.

3. Go topside.

Roofs usually have a 20 to 30 year life, but that doesn't mean they don't need attention. You or a roofer should get up there once a year to check its condition.

Look for missing or rotting shingles. While up there, check the gutters to make sure they're free of leaves and debris. It's also a good time to repair any broken gutters and downspouts.

Don't forget to trim dead or overgrown tree limbs hanging over your house. All it takes is one storm to bring weak branches down and damage your roof.

4. The water fight.

Moisture is public enemy number one. Enemy number two is poor ventilation. Put them together, and you have an environment that encourages mold growth.

Molds can seriously damage your home (your biggest investment) and some can even make you sick. A good exhaust fan is needed in your bathroom where moisture can easily collect after showers.
Damp basements and crawl spaces can be mold hotbeds. Watch for leaks from your hot water heater, plumbing system and seeping rain water.

One more tip: know where your plumbing valves are. That way, if you spring a leak somewhere in your home, you'll know how to shut the water off at the source and prevent further flooding.

5. Beware the dangers in your garage.

An attached garage gives you protected passage to your car. But you may actually need to protect yourself from what's inside.

When warm air leaks out of your home, air from the garage gets sucked in. That means carbon monoxide and other harmful gases can enter your home.

Not only should you think twice about warming up the car inside on cold days, you should also rethink what you store there. Fumes given off by chemicals, pesticides and fertilizer can be harmful. Think about storing these substances outside in waterproof, plastic containers.

Your home is your most important investment and steps should be taken to maintain it.