Get Your Home Ready for Fall with these Simple Tips
It’s finally time to turn off the air-conditioning and enjoy the crisp mornings and evenings of Autumn. The days are still sunny and warm, but soon the leaves will lose their deep green tones and transform into shades of yellow, orange, and red–and then scatter all over the lawn. Just as nature adjusts this time of year, our homes have to as well. Between yard clean-up, heating systems, air filters and more, a house needs some tending to when the seasons change. Follow these tips below and get a head start on enjoying the gorgeous autumn weather.
Keep the Gutters Clear
Clear the gutters of leaves, debris, nests, and anything that could prevent proper drainage. Keep an eye out for any holes or leaks. If something needs repair, be sure to call a professional to handle it for you safely.
Replace the Air Filters
After a season or two of no use, the heating system needs some care before it gets put to work. Replace the air filters to eliminate the bacteria, dust, and grime that most likely built up over the past several months. Clean air filters are not only important for healthy air quality, but they are critical to the system’s efficiency.
Prepare Your Home for Air Flow
Check to make sure that all of the heating system’s output locations are clear and clean. Vents should never have clutter in front of them–or anything flammable. Also keep an eye out for gunk or dirt on vents, and be sure to clean them off or replace them. This will work to ensure that the air is flowing evenly through the home. No hot and cold spots, please!
Check the Chimney and Fireplace
There’s nothing better on a fall night than having a cozy fire. But if you have a wood-burning chimney and fireplace, it’s critical to make sure it’s safe. Clean out the ashes at the bottom and have a professional sweep the chimney itself. It’s important to make sure the structure is clean and inspected by a pro before using it.
Check the Thermostat
It might not be time to turn on the heat quite yet, but it’s important to check it! Turn on your thermostats and let them run for a few hours, then check the house for hot and cold spots. Uneven heat–or worse, no heat at all–will indicate problems that need to be fixed by a pro. If you check your thermostat and notice that something isn’t quite right, Call Kerivan-Lane to have one of our expert technicians diagnose and solve the issue.
Clean the Air Ducts
Dust, bacteria, and all kinds of particulates settle in air ducts throughout a home. Before blasting the heat and spreading the grime, it’s important to clean them! They can be vacuumed out to a point, but it’s a great idea to have a professional come and clean them for you.
Schedule a Tune-Up
With fall upon us and winter on the horizon, it is extremely important to schedule a professional tune-up for your heating system. A routine check can help find and resolve small problems–before they turn into larger, costly issues. The experts at Kerivan-Lane can inspect your heating system to ensure that it is running as efficiently as possible.
Beyond a tune-up, the Kerivan-Lane Service Plans are an extremely smart way to ensure that your home is always running up-to-speed. Our Service Plans offer tune-ups, 24-hour emergency service, preferred customer benefits, and discounts on repairs. It’s the easiest, most affordable way to take excellent care of your home. Contact us today to get started!