As the days get shorter, you’ll probably find yourself spending more time indoors. Make the most of it by completing some items on your checklist. Here are some of the top projects to take care of inside your home this autumn:
—Find and fix drafts: Want to save money? Up to 30% of heating and cooling costs are due to drafts. To increase your energy efficiency, run your hand around the frame of your windows and exterior doors. If you feel a breeze or hear a whistling sound of air movement, you have a draft. Apply caulk to window frames and weatherstripping to doors and moveable parts of the windows. Replace old windows if needed.
—Get your furnace inspected: While most HVAC professionals will recommend changing your furnace filter every four months, don’t forget to also get it inspected. A yearly inspection is important to make sure all the parts are working correctly and the furnace is safe to use. Plus, most furnace warranties will not cover fixes without proof of routine maintenance.
—Change smoke detector batteries: Change your smoke detector batteries every six months. While it might not be exactly six months, one of the easiest ways to remember to rotate your batteries is to swap them out when Daylight Saving Time begins in the spring and ends in the fall. Install fresh batteries as you adjust your clocks.
—Inspect and clean the chimney: Put some goggles on, grab a flashlight and look up your chimney. Check that the damper opens and closes properly and that you don’t see any obstructions in the flue. If you’re nervous about doing an inspection yourself, don’t hesitate to contact a professional for help. Either way, consider hiring someone to sweep your chimney every other year.
—Swap screens for storm windows: This is another way to increase the energy efficiency in your home. As the temperature drops, make sure you have removed the screens from your windows and doors in favor of the glass storm frames to help keep the heat in and cold out.
—Remove, clean and store window AC units: The key step here is cleaning. Remove the unit from your window and start by cleaning the filter. Don’t forget to wipe down the grill, fins, coils, drip tray and drain. Finish it off by scrubbing the exterior. Then store it for the winter following the manufacturer’s instructions, or drain the Freon and dispose of the unit if it won’t make it to next summer. Of course, if you have a permanently installed window unit, just focus on the cleaning.
—Fix insulation: Sometimes insulation needs to be reinstalled, whether you suffered water damage from a roof leak or household pests invaded and destroyed a section. Check unfinished places in your house to see the status of your insulation: attics, crawlspaces, basements and garages. Never had insulation installed? Fall is an ideal time to insulate your attic and garage insulation in two days.
—Reverse ceiling fan rotation: Hot air rises, so you’ll want to force it down during the winter. With your fan blades blowing upward, it will push the warmer air back into circulation. If your fan has a reverse feature, just flip the switch on the fan or yank the appropriate pull-cord to reverse the fan’s rotation.
