18 Things to Do to Get your Virginia Home Ready for Autumn

It’s not too late to get your house in Virginia ready for the fall by making sure everything is in order before the winter months set in.

We're talking about things like cleaning out gutters, installing home security systems and so much more to get ready for what lies ahead.

Don't know where to begin? Read on for everything you should know about preparing your house for fall and getting it ready for the cold winter months.

1. Check Furnace

Autumn is an ideal time if you want to keep your furnace safe and sound. You should clean your furnace and switch out your furnace filters before the colder months hit.

Check your furnace for any obstructions that might prevent it from working efficiently and save on heating bills. Ignition problems can cause carbon build-up in the combustion chamber and blockages in the fan blades. A poorly functioning heater could lead to overheating and possible injury to yourself and others if not properly maintained. Dust can accumulate in parts of the unit and contribute to inefficient operation. Look for signs of wear and tear such as cracks around the blower wheel, burn marks, loose wiring connections, and broken or missing vents. An annual professional maintenance checkup keeps your system running smoothly and extends the life of your heating equipment.

2. Tackle Mundane Chores

During the autumn, focus your attention on cleaning tasks such as the oven, the microwave, the flooring, the curtains, and the blinds. It’s best to organize these tasks before the Christmas rush and colder weather start.

Don't forget to give yourself plenty of time to declutter your closet, too. You'll want to put away your summer clothes for next year and place any items you don't plan to use into air-tight containers until next year.

3. Start D-I-Y projects

Autumn is one of those times when you need to check your gutters and pipes, look for leaks, and seal any gaps in the walls before severe weather begins.

4. Clean Gutters

As fall approaches, it’s a good idea to check your gutters for blockages. If they’re clogged, they could be causing water damage to your roof and walls.

5. Outdoor Equipment

Keep your outdoor equipment clean and well-maintained during these months. Also, don't leave any gardening tools outside when not in use, and remember to drain garden hoses before the frost.

6. Incorporate Fresh Scents

To celebrate autumn, give your house a clean sweep and fill it with soothing aromas like pumpkin, spice, or apple.

Also, autumn brings an increase in the number of fragrant plants available for purchase at garden centers and nurseries. These plants offer a variety of scents that can be used to scent your home. Swap summery-scented candles for spicy ones, aromatherapy-scented candles with an earthy note, such as sandalwood, or soothing scented candles like vanilla are all possibilities.

7. Carbon Monoxide and Smoke Detectors

Every six months, check your carbon monoxide detectors to see if they're working correctly and prevent house fires. You can do so by pressing the "T" button on each of the carbon monoxide detectors. If you hear an audible signal, you know your alarms are functioning properly. If not, you'll need to change out the battery. At the same time do the same for smoke detectors located throughout your Virginia home, condo, apartment, or second home.

8. Review Home Security System

During the fall and winter months, when the days get shorter and darker, there tends to be an uptick in domestic burglary. To prepare your house for the coming seasons, consider cutting down shrubs so you have a clear view from inside, installing motion sensors, tightening all locks, and, if you're able to afford them, opting for CCTV cameras.

9. Roofs and Lofts

Before the cold weather arrives, check your roofs for any potential issues. If you notice anything wrong, call in an expert to inspect it. Before any major repairs need to be done, inspect your attic for signs of water damage. If there are leaks, they could cause serious structural issues down the road. Inspecting your attic regularly will help prevent costly repairs from occurring.

10. Get Warm

Fall is the perfect time to layer up, cozy up, and bring the changing landscape indoors. As you prepare for winter, nothing sounds better than making a cozy place to escape to.

11. Switch Out Light Bulbs

Since you will soon turn your lights on earlier which will cause an increase in electricity usage opt for a 100W LED replacement for incandescent bulbs uses 4x less electricity and lasts up to 20 years, compared to their incandescent counterparts.

12. Look for Water Damage

Leaking pipes could lead to water damage in your house. You’ll find that one small hole in your roof might not mean that you’re getting water into your house; it just means that one end of the pipe is leaking. That doesn’t necessarily mean that the entire system needs replacing, especially if it hasn’t leaked in a while. But if water is constantly dripping, then you need to call someone who specializes in plumbing repair. One thing you can do right away is to contact a plumber so he/she can come out and inspect what you think may be an issue.

13. Open Drapes, Blinds

In the autumn, it's time to make your house beautiful and you can do this by pulling the shades and opening the drapes to let sunlight in! During the day, open drapes and blinds on sunny windows so that the light pours through. Then, once nighttime rolls around or if it's a grey and chilly day, draw the blinds and put up thermal drapes again. If you've just moved to your new place, these are the things to check before moving in.

14. Buy an Electric Blanket, Heater

Of course, you could lower your thermostats even more during colder months if you'd like to save even more energy. For example, you can buy an electric blanket or use an electric heater instead of natural gas because they don't emit carbon dioxide. Heaters that run on propane or natural gas tend to be more expensive than electric heaters, but they take less time to warm up and cool down.

15. Change Ceiling Fan Switches

When you flip the switch on a ceiling fan, you'll immediately begin feeling warmer because the cool breeze from the fan is pushing hot air away from you. However, if you leave the fan at its highest setting, you'll end up colder than if you hadn't flipped it on at all. And keep in mind that most fans aren't designed to be used in high temperatures. So set your thermostat lower whenever you use one.

16. Prep the Garden

Now is the perfect time to store away your garden furniture or get ready for the next season. Make sure that all lawn furniture is well secured and not prone to breakage or cause any kind of trouble when there’s bad weather outside.

Wash your outdoor furniture before bringing it back inside. You should also check your cushion covers and any fabric items to make sure they're not damaged. And if you do store your patio furniture outside during the winter months, remember to protect them with plastic sheeting to keep out moisture and prevent mold growth.

Also, when you're outside, take care of anything else that needs your attention before thinking about clearing away debris from your roof. Doing so will not only keep things clean but will also prevent gutter blockage.

If you have grass, the fall is a good time for cleaning up and repairing your yard. It helps keep the grass green so that it survives until spring.

17. Have a Flashlight on Hand

It's also important to ensure your flashlight has fresh batteries and that they're not too old. Plus, you might be able to use your phone's built-in flashlight function now if you've lost yours.

If there is always an electric socket near where you sleep, add some candles and matchboxes so they're ready for emergencies. Also keep batteries, backup lights, and flashlights handy.

18. Fireplaces

Are your fireplaces and homes ready for these cold winter months? Make sure they're cleaned out, checked for blockages, and that your dampers are functioning properly. If your chimneys are covered in soot or are building up tar, you'll need to get them cleaned.

Get Busy

If you tackle one or two of these things on this list every day, you should be able to get your Virginia home ready for the fall season and enjoy the great outdoors when you're done.

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