It is now time to pull out those favourite sweaters from the back of the closet and dust off those wool blankets, because cool, wintry days are just about upon us.
The autumn is also the right time to prepare your home for Old Man Winter.
With advice from some experts, we have compiled a number of fall "to-do list" chores. Their advice will ensure you get your home ready for the cold weather ahead, avoid costly heating bills and even worse -- possible expensive repair bills.
Roof and gutters
The changing colours of the leaves are beautiful but once they die off, they can make a mess of your roof and gutters.
As the leaves fall, you need to keep them off the roof because as they decay, as they will break down your cedar shingles.
Once the roof and gutters are cleaned properly, inspect for leaks and misaligned pipes. Then, check your roof for curled, warped, cracked or buckled shingles, as they will need to be replaced.
Furnace
A smooth-running furnace can save a lot of headaches later on, so the first order is make sure to change your filters often, every six weeks or so.
If your filter is clogged, your furnace won't run as efficiently, which costs you more money to heat your house. Have a furnace inspection and cleaning done yearly to keep it in good working order.
Draft-proofing
Wait for a windy day, then, with a lit incense stick placed close to windows, door frames, electrical outlets and recessed lighting, slowly move it across and see if there's movement.
If it moves, that's a clear indicator that there's a draft or leak, which can be easily fixed with caulking or weatherstripping.
Another simple way to save on your heating bill is to keep your southerly window covering open during the winter, to allow the sun to heat your home.
Meanwhile, years of wear and tear can cause doors to allow heat to escape. An easy solution is to seal any gaps or cracks by installing weatherstripping and caulking at the bottom of the door and on the sides to block off air.
Heat can also escape through your wood-burning fireplace. A slab of Styrofoam, covered with cloth and pushed into the rectangular front of your fireplace can correct heat loss.
To keep cool air out, keep your chimney damper closed when the fireplace isn't in use. You can also purchase a protective cap with a screen for your chimney, keeping foreign objects, like birds, out.
Thermal insulation, when correctly installed, slows heat from escaping your home in winter and from entering your home in summer, making your home more comfortable and saving money on energy bills.
Check your attic and basement's insulation to make sure it's properly in place. Then update to a more energy-efficient insulation or increase the amount of insulation you have, because you can be losing lots of heat.
-- Canwest News Service
