Fall Home Tips & Reminders:

Daylight Savings Time

Fall Daylight Savings Time has arrived and it’s time to get some home improvement projects done before winter arrives.  Here’s a few tips and reminders for homeowners.

Change smoke detector batteries - This is the classic daylight savings time activity and many fire departments and other organizations around the country actually give away batteries this weekend just so people remember to do it. A simple smoke detector is one of the best ways you can keep your family safe in the event of a fire.

Reverse direction of your ceiling fans - Yes, most ceiling fans turn in two directions: one is for cooling the room and one is for warming the room by circulating warm are.

Replace a few incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs - Compact fluorescent light bulbs are a little more expensive but last much longer and use so much less energy that they pay for themselves many times over by using much less energy.

Touch up the paint on your walls – November is a great time to start your interior painting projects to lighten and brighten the home.

Recaulk the shower and tub – Fall home improvement projects usually focus on energy savings but a simple recaulking project can save your home from water damage.

Change furnace filter – A good rule is to replace furnace filters twice a year.  This will help your furnace from problems and inefficiencies.

Schedule a heating system inspection - It only takes a single phone call, it often costs less than $100 and it could save you thousands in repairs. Most heating and cooling systems should be inspected and looked over by an expert every year or two.

Inspect and clean out your chimney – A chimney can get blocked and cause fires to start. Having it inspected every year or so for soot blockage or cracks on the inside of the house or outside of the house will help you avoid these dangers.

Install storm doors and windows - If you have older windows in your home then you may need to install the storm window that goes on the outside of each window and helps insulate it and cut down on the drafts. If you have a storm door installed you may want to change out the screen for a pane of glass.

Check gutters for blockages and looseness - Gutters can fill up and get blocked with leaves and debris during the fall and then hold water and snow during the winter months. When that water freezes, your gutters can cause damage to your roof.

Prepare your lawn for winter. Prune your trees, cut branches and shrubs from your home, and fertilize your lawn.  Minimize cold weather damage to your home and lawn.