Fall is one of the seasons the family looks forward to. It balances the outgoing summer and the incoming winter, making the perfect combination of hot and cold temperatures ideal for outdoor activities, family trips, and long walks at the park.
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If you are a parent of small kids, autumn is the perfect time to bond with them. You can carve pumpkins with them, jump on a file of leaves, or simply toast marshmallows outdoors. You can even prepare for Halloween events, which are right around the corner. There are many other fun activities you can do with the family.
But then, seasons change quicker than most people want. It means that this season is the perfect time to prepare for the next season. And you all know that winter, known to be the coldest time of the year, is fast approaching.
That small fact needs emphasis because some things are not easy to do when it’s cold. This makes fall also the perfect time to winterize your home. Some may say it is too advanced, but preparing ahead is not so bad as time is of the essence.
You need to understand that your home is at the forefront of every changing weather. It is your shelter during the scorching heat and when it is cold. During the pandemic, your house became the safest place in the world. So it is always a good idea to get your home ready for the changing seasons.
Here are simple things to do to start winterizing your home:
1.Check Your Heaters
This is the most crucial part of your home during winter. It provides warmth and comfort for the whole family while it freezes outside. And it is a health hazard when you are unprotected and the weather is at a freezing point. This fact should give importance that getting your heaters ready for winter is a must.
Checking your heaters should start with a test run. Turn the heat mode on and set it to 80 degrees. Check the furnace if it turns on, and feel the warm air when it blows. Then turn it into the standard setting and see how it works.
It is also good to change air filters for a better flow of warm and clean air. Make sure to follow the manufacturer’s list of approved air filters. It is also good to check if the heating vents are clean. It must be clear of obstacles so warm air flows freely.
More importantly, you have to check for carbon monoxide leaks. This is usually caused by a leak in the exhaust of a fuel-burning furnace. Doing this is very important as this kind of leakage is dangerous for health and safety. Better yet, it is good to hire an expert technician to do the work for you. It is recommended that heaters need to have a technician visit once a year. And fall is the perfect season to do it.
2.Clean Your Air Conditioners
It is but natural to ignore your air conditioning units when the season gets cold. But this is a part of your home that still needs attention before winter. An air conditioning unit of any type must be cleaned and waterproofed in case snow falls and melts on it. Whether it is a window type or industrial air conditioner, protecting it from snow is a must.
You need to give the condensing unit some tender love and care. Clear it from debris, clean the fan blades and coils with water. You don’t want to be damaged by melting snow, wet leaves, and frozen parts. Let it dry and then cover it with waterproof materials or remove and keep it before winter.
3.Manage Your Water Pipes
The moisture in water pipes makes them susceptible to freezing during winter, especially exposed pipes or the ones in the garden. And water pipes that burst open because of freezing can cause a lot of damage. They also get expensive for repairs and replacements. So it is vital to check them and secure them way before winter.
You can insulate exposed pipes using foam insulating sleeves. You can also wrap your pipes with electrical tape as the first layer, then add some insulation as a second layer.
Even your exterior faucets and plumbing system need your attention. It would be best if you drained them then turned them off. Doing this should avoid storing water to freeze. A small leak can damage the whole thing, and you don’t want to pay expensive money on repairs and replacement.
There are many other things you need to prepare before winter. But at least, those three cover the essential things that might be harder to secure when it starts to freeze. It is good to put check marks on your fall to-do list first. Then you can go ahead and spend quality time with your family.