Unless you are an avid skier, you’re probably not ready for winter. However, as a homeowner it is important to get your home ready for the cold and often snowy winter months. The crisp, cool weather make autumn the perfect time to work on these winterizing chores. And some of the inside chores, such as caulking, can easily be taken care of during the winter months. Time spent now will lessen the time it could take to fix problems later.

Outdoor Chores
Your annuals were beautiful, but now is the time to clean up flowerbeds and vegetable gardens. Fall is the time to plant spring bulbs and divide and replant perennials. Rake leaves from yard and prune shrubs and trees, making sure limbs do not touch your home. Start to put away tools and equipment left outdoors during the summer such as play equipment, lawn mowers, barbecues, patio furniture, gardening tools and hoses. It may be time to winterize your pool and outdoor hot tub, too.

Even though you did it in the spring, you should check for any lose or missing roof shingles, siding or shutters and have these items fixed by a professional contractor.
Caulking helps keep your house weather-tight and lowers heating and cooling bills. It can also help keep insects and other “critters” out of your house. Before winter comes caulk exterior joints around windows and doors. A helpfull hint...when you caulk before painting, it eliminates edges where the paint may start to peel. The cool, less humid days also make fall an excellent time for exterior painting touch-ups.

Indoor Chores
A very important element of fall maintenance is to check your home heating system. If it has been some time, have your heating system serviced by a qualified professional. Clean and eliminate all dust and dirt around the system, registers and condensing unit. It is also a good time to replace your heating system filter. Your Towne Builders recommends replacing filters every three months. Clean and vacuum dust from vents, baseboard heaters and cold-air returns. Dust buildup in ducts is a major cause of indoor pollutants and can increase incidences of cold-weather illnesses. Consider hiring a pro to clean hard-to-reach ductwork. To get the most from your ceiling fans adjust fans to blow UP for the heating season and DOWN for the cooling season — push a switch up or down, or reverse the angle of the blades for older models.

Fall is also the time to remove window screens and store in a safe place such as your basement or garage. Install storm windows, if you have them, to insure proper heating efficiency. Clip the fall maintenance check list to the right and use as your guide. Spending the time to properly winterize your home now, can save you time and money in months or years to come.