Get Ready for Cooler Weather Now

The drought’s ending – that’s an unofficial prediction but the signs are everywhere – and temperatures are beginning to fall. Okay, so we’re still in the 90s. But before you know it, we're going to feel the welcome touch of autumn. Now is a great time to start getting your home ready for cooler weather.

Here are some things to do now to prepare:

Fall cleanup

• Turn over your mattress and wash your bedding, including comforters and blankets.
• Get your carpets professionally cleaned.
• Clean your windows, inside and out, including in between the sills. Many new windows have UV filters and aren't supposed to be cleaned with glass cleaners. Instead use water dampened microfiber towels.

Other deep-cleaning ideas for the fall from the web site organizedhome.com include:

• Clean top to bottom, starting with public rooms such as the living room, family room, entryway and guest bath.
• Vacuum drapes, window treatments, baseboards and in the corners. Move furniture and vacuum beneath and behind it. Vacuum upholstered furniture, or have professionally cleaned if needed. Pull the refrigerator away from the wall, and vacuum the condenser coils. For bottom-mounted coils, use a long, narrow brush to clean coils of dust and debris.

Home maintenance

Now is a great time to have your home’s air ducts cleaned, and if you have a fireplace, check the flue. Have the fireplace cleaned if it’s wood burning.

Here’s a must-do: clean the gutters! If they gutters get clogged, roof damage could result. Install gutter protectors, which will keep debris out.

Other home maintenance tasks for the fall include:

• Examine the chimney for any damage.
• Touch up paint on decks, trim and railings. Use a wire brush to remove flaking paint; prime bare wood first.
• Inspect washing machine hoses for bulges, cracks or splits. Replace them every other year.
• Check the dryer exhaust tube and vent for built-up lint, debris or birds' nests. Make sure the exterior vent door closes tightly when not in use.

Beware of bugs

Bugs and mice look for a warm place to stay in the winter, so now is the time to check for rotted, cracked or damaged wood around the house that can serve as an entryway for critters. Check the strip around the garage door, which is typically weathered at the bottom. It’s important to keep the wood on your home painted, sealed and caulked. Consider replacing wood trim with PVC material trim that requires no maintenance and can be painted.

Energy-saving fall ideas

Caulking around windows and doors, if you have an older home, will help seal the house, keeping chilly air and bugs out and heat in. All homeowners should check weather-stripping and door sweeps.

Other energy saving maintenance ideas for the fall include:

• Install ceiling fans. With the blades tipped to push warm air down, ceiling fans save energy and money.
• Check attic insulation and add more if necessary.
• Replace windows for energy efficiency – they will pay for themselves in time and make your home more comfortable.
• Have an energy audit done, which will tell you where heat is escaping your home and costing you money.

Enjoy the rest of the summer as you look forward to the cool, refreshing days of fall.