It would be amazing if all you needed to prep your home for fall was to hang a wreath and set out a bunch of pumpkins. While those are a crucial part of getting ready for the change of seasons, there are more important (and not exactly fun) preparations that come with being a homeowner. There may be some needed maintenance before your house transitions from hot summer days to cool fall nights – and eventually freezing temperatures. Consider these ideas to prepare your Blount County house for Fall 2022.
You’re so used to your gutters working properly — and draining thousands of gallons of water from your roof yearly — that you forget they could use a little TLC. If they’re clogged, you can end up with a flooded interior and a damaged exterior. So clean them, and if necessary, replace them.
Another thing in your house that may be costing you more money than it should be. If your filters are clogged, it’s harder to keep your home at the temperature you want it to be. This will increase your heating bills. Clean these filters monthly, not just before the fall, and thank me later. Note that disposable filters can be vacuumed once before replacing, and foam filters can be cleaned like a sponge.
Heat loss through windows is responsible for 25-30 percent of heating energy use, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. However, it doesn’t have to be that way, because weatherstripping is simple and probably the most cost-effective way to keep heating costs down. To check if you have a draft issue, close a door or window on a strip of paper. If the paper slides easily, you need to update your weatherstripping.