Now that the fall season has arrived, it's time to prepare the interior of your home for the cooler months. Seasonal maintenance is a must to keep your property in top shape and looking its best!
1. Let the light into your home! With the cooler season, means darker days. Make the most of natural light by ensuring nothing is blocking the windows and keeping your blinds clean, adding new lamps in darker spaces, and replacing incandescent light bulbs with energy-efficient bulbs.
2. Create an entryway mudroom, even if you don't have a dedicated space. During the fall and winter, people tend to bring the coldness, wetness and snow indoors! Organize your entryway to allow for people to come in, hang their wet jacket or clothing and store their shoes or boots. Set up an indoor-outdoor rug, a coat hanging rack, and a shoe rack. If you have the space, a storage bench is also a good idea to make it easier to undress and for keeping hats, gloves, scarfs or umbrellas.
3. Check for drafts around the edges of your windows and doors. One way is to use a lighted candle. If the flame flickers, there's most likely a draft. Replace seals and repair caulking wherever necessary. You can also purchase heavier / insulated drapery.
4. Have your furnace inspected by an HVAC professional. They will test for leaks, check the heating efficiency and change out the filter. It's also a good idea to buy a couple extra filters and replace them every 3 months during the cooler months.
5. Replace and reprogram your thermostat. If you don't already have one, install a smart thermostat. You can control the settings on an app and set to automatically lower the temperature at night or when you're not home, and turn back on when you need it. This can result in substantial savings with your heat bill! If you do have one, make sure to reprogram to account for a new cold weather schedule.
6. Replace your springtime decor. Change out your throw pillows and blankets. Having layers of warm blankets available on your couch, sofa or accent chairs will look the part and keep your family and guests warm on cooler evenings.
7. Change out your bedding. Save money on your heating bill by making sure you have warm bedding. Try to purchase a thicker comforter that still fits with the overall theme of your bedroom decor.
8. Do a home safety check. Replace the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and ensure they're functioning and up to code.
9. Clean your fireplace and chimney. Although you can clean out ash and charred wood, it's best to hire a professional to do a full chimney clean. Have them check the damper to ensure it can be tightly closed to prevent and drafting.