Around the House: Fall Prep for Everyone

Whether you own a house or rent an apartment, here’s a simple checklist to get you through the season.

By LGBTSr

It’s not yet winter-cold, but the mornings are inching that way. We have a house, and being a homeowner comes with seasonal preparations. The leaves are turning, the mornings are crisp, and the furnace is about to wake up from its summer nap. Fall is the best time to get your home ready for winter. It’s cool enough to work comfortably, and you’ll catch small problems before they turn into January emergencies.

Whether you own a house or rent an apartment, here’s a simple checklist to get you through the season. – Mark

For Everyone

Test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Replace the batteries while you’re at it. Heating season is when CO problems are most likely, so don’t skip this one.
Check for drafts. Hold your hand near windows and doors on a breezy day. Inexpensive weatherstripping or a draft stopper along the bottom of a door can make a real difference on your heating bill.
Restock your emergency kit. Flashlights, fresh batteries, bottled water, a week of medications, and a phone charger that doesn’t need an outlet. Fall and winter storms can knock out power for days.
Pull out the warm bedding. Swap in flannel sheets and an extra blanket now, before the first cold night catches you off guard.

For Homeowners

Clean the gutters. Wait until most of the leaves have dropped, then clear them out so rain and melting snow can drain away from your foundation. If ladders aren’t your friend anymore, hire someone. A fall from a ladder is not worth the savings.
Change your HVAC filter. A clean filter helps your furnace run efficiently and keeps dust out of the air. Most need replacing every one to three months, so mark it on your calendar.
Schedule a furnace or boiler check. An annual service visit costs far less than an emergency call on the coldest night of the year.
Shut off outdoor faucets. Disconnect and drain your garden hoses, then turn off the water to outside spigots so the pipes don’t freeze and burst.
Look up. From the ground, check the roof for missing or damaged shingles, and have the chimney inspected if you use a fireplace.

For Renters

Clean or remove your window air conditioner. If it stays in the window, put an insulated cover on it to stop drafts. If you take it out, clean the filter, let it drain completely, and store it upright.
Refresh your air purifier. Windows stay shut in the colder months, so indoor air gets stale. Replace or clean the filter now so it’s ready for the season.
Ask your landlord about the heat. Request a heating system check before you need it, and report any drafty windows or radiators that don’t warm up. Put requests in writing so there’s a record.
Use space heaters safely. Keep them at least three feet from curtains, bedding, and furniture, plug them directly into the wall rather than an extension cord, and turn them off when you leave the room or go to sleep.
Review your renter’s insurance. Make sure your coverage still matches what you own. It’s inexpensive peace of mind.

One Last Thing

You don’t have to do it all in one weekend. Pick two or three items a week, and by the time the first frost arrives you’ll be ready. And if a job is too much to handle alone, ask a friend, a neighbor, or someone from your community for help. There’s no shame in it. That’s what community is for.

Here’s to a warm, cozy, and worry-free fall