Fall Home Improvement Projects
Despite warm temperatures, fall is right around the corner. It’s a busy time of year with children going back to school, fall planting, and getting the house ready for winter. Here is a list of 7 fall home improvement projects that will protect your home from storms, keep energy bills low, and keep you warm in cool weather.
1: Furnace Tune-Up
Get the furnace tuned-up or even replaced. Older furnaces run less efficiently than newer ones. A new furnace, when properly installed, can run at approximately 80% efficiency. A well-operating furnace reduces energy costs and increases comfort. Yearly furnace tune-ups also make your home safer.
2: Clean Windows
During the fall and winter, the sun shines for fewer hours and at a different angle. Clean your windows to increase your home’s solar gain. The sun can shine through clean windows more easily and help heat up your home. Clean windows will boost your mood and keep energy bills lower.
3: Weatherstripping and Caulking
While major insulation projects can substantially reduce energy bills, heat may be lost through tiny cracks. Check the weatherstripping around doors and windows and replace it if it’s worn or broken. Caulking along the edges of the window panes will keep out moisture and cold air. This fall home improvement project keeps out those cold winter drafts.
4: Clean Gutters
Debris has been filling your gutters all year. When winter arrives, any trapped water in clogged gutters may freeze which could damage the gutters and other parts of your home. Gutters direct water away from the house. If that water freezes or overflows, it could cause major damage to the exterior of your home. Clean out your gutters as one of your fall home improvement projects.
5: Fall Home Improvement Projects for the Roof
If your roof is compromised, it can leak and cause water damage. Call a professional to inspect the roof and make repairs during fall. If you need a new roof, roof replacement is a good fall home improvement project.
6: Fall Home Improvement for the Fireplace
Soot can build up in chimneys and potentially start a chimney fire. Just like the furnace, having the chimney and fireplace properly maintained prevents dangerous risks.
7: Clean Ceiling Fans
You have probably kept your ceiling fans running all summer long. This perpetual movement builds up a static charge on your fan blades, which attracts dust. Fall is an excellent time to give your fan blades a good dusting. Also, you should switch the direction the fan rotates. As the temperature cools off, the fans should run clockwise to push warm air downwards.
These fall home improvement projects can make your home safer, lower your energy bills, and increase your comfort levels all winter long.
Elite Home Inspections provides inspection services for houses in Louisville and the surrounding areas. Contact us to schedule your appointment.