Are you ready for autumn? Although you may be excited for sweater weather and fall flavors, don’t forget to focus on your home, too. With all the seasonal changes coming soon, you’ll need to prepare your property in a few simple steps. If you’re not familiar with this process—or you just need a refresher—this checklist from Freedom Insurance Agency should help. Let us know if you’d like to review or update your homeowners’ insurance as we head into fall!
1. Fire Up This Fall
Now that cooler temperatures are headed our way, it’s time to make sure your heating elements are ready to go. Whatever type of furnace you have at home, we recommend that you inspect it before firing it up for the first time this autumn. At a minimum, you should take a look at the equipment, searching for any major signs of wear and tear that would’ve gone unnoticed during summer. Don’t forget to change your filter (when applicable), too. If you notice an issue or have an older furnace, consider calling the professionals to service your equipment before it gets too cold.
While your furnace is important, it may not be the only heat source you have at home. If you have an active fireplace and chimney, both should be cleaned this fall. Your outdoor fire pit also requires maintenance, although you should be able to clear any built-up ash and debris on your own. Chimney sweeping is a job best left to the professionals. Plus, you could use a hand preparing your home for autumn as you tackle these other tasks.
2. Let the Light In
Have you noticed how the days already seem shorter? Since it’s officially fall, that’s only going to get worse. As our daylight hours gradually decrease, you’ll need to reevaluate your home’s lighting needs. If you have a lot of windows and other sources for natural light, then you should just be able to enhance these features with a thorough cleaning. By washing your windows—and even the blinds—you’ll remove any leftover allergens from spring/summer as you allow more light to feed in naturally.
If that’s not enough, be prepared to add additional lighting throughout your home this autumn. Floor lamps and table lamps are an inexpensive way to incorporate light in hard-to-reach places. Not to mention, you can move them around as needed. You could also swap out your lightbulbs for higher-wattages ones that offer brighter light and greater energy efficiency.
3. Insulate against the Coming Cold
As you prepare your home for autumn, you can’t forget this important step. Pretty soon, those air leaks that went unnoticed over the last few months are going to present a problem. Check your windows, doors, attics, and crawl spaces for gaps or spots with little to no insulation. Not only will these areas contribute to energy loss as the seasons continue to change. But also, you’ll feel the cold air coming in as you try to get cozy this fall.
Double check the weatherstipping all around your home, replacing it as needed. You may also want to reinforce the caulking around your windows and door casings, if you notice it seems to be peeling. Don’t be afraid to call in the professionals for extra help. There are many companies throughout Carroll County that specialize in reinforcing home exteriors, as well as insulation. But they’re busy during this time of year, so don’t wait too long to schedule your servicing.
Of course, you can continue this list with more enjoyable steps. Such as, switching out your fall decorations, preparing your garden for next spring, and organizing your calendar for autumn! We just covered the basics to ensure your home is protected against the coming seasonal changes. If there’s anything else we can do at Freedom Insurance Agency to ease this transition, please let us know! We’d be happy to review your current homeowners’ insurance and/or update your coverage as needed. Call us today for a free quote.
