Good morning folks…Happy Tuesday! The days are starting to get shorter, the nights are getting colder. We all know what that means don’t we? Winter is on it’s way! There are only 99 days til Christmas (Don’t shoot the messenger! I’m just trying to keep you informed 🙂 )With the cooler nights upon us, that means it is time to get our homes in shape for the winter season. September is the perfect time of year to get these small tasks done to ensure you and your loved ones are comfortable in your home once the cold settles in. There are many things you can do to prep your home inside and out side to get yourself ready for the change of the seasons.
Lets start with the quickest and cheapest preparations shall we!?
Clean your windows! This should be done at least twice a year, in the spring and in the fall. Not only will you be able to see all the beauty nature brings us in the fall, it will also clear up any dust or debris that may have nested in your window frames over the summer months. Here are some great tips to get those windows sparkling bright! Tuesday Tips: Cleaning your Windows
Clean Your Dryer Vent! Clear the lint from your outside dryer vent. Make sure the flap can close completely when the dryer isn’t running.
Reverse Your Ceiling Fan! Set your ceiling fan to run in a clockwise motion. Doing so will push the air down into the room towards the floor instead of lifting it up and out.
Clean Your Gutters! Removing debris from your gutters will keep icicles from forming on your home. It will also force water down and let it drain instead of spilling over onto your driveway or side walk and creating a patch of slippery and dangerous ice.
Turn Down The Temp! Experts say that if you turn down your heater by 3 degrees at night, the average household can save $100 a year on their heating bill.
Mow Your Leaves! Mow your leaves instead of raking them, say studies at the University of Michigan and Purdue. The trick is to cut the leaves, while they are dry, into dime-sized pieces that will fall among the grass blades, where they will decompose and nourish your lawn over the winter. (Who knew! ? )
Rearrange Your Furniture! Changing your furniture is a great way to give your rooms a fresh new look and feel for the Holiday season. It always makes me feel good when I rearrange stuff. It’s like a fresh new look on your space!
My sister shared this awesome TIP on facebook yesterday. I just had to include it in todays Tuesday Tips!!
Spend a little Time & Money
Some things are worth taking the time and spending a little cash to make them better and more efficient for your home.
Get Your Furnace Inspected! This could cost anywhere from $50 to $100. A technician will come to your home and inspect your furnace or your heating pump to make sure the system is clean and in good working order. They also measure carbon monoxide leakage to ensure a safe winter season.
Change the Filter! It is recommended that you change the air filter on your heating unit every 3 months, or less. Clogged filters reduce heating and cooling efficiency and can reduce the useful life of your appliances.
Clean Your Chimney! If you run a fire place, wood stove or other heating source, be sure to have that inspected and cleaned as well. This will help prevent fires and carbon monoxide poisoning.
Check Your Windows & Doors! According to professionals, if there is a gap between your siding and the frames on your windows and doors wider than a nickel, you need to reapply exterior calk.  Silicone caulk is best for exterior use because it won’t shrink and it’s impervious to the elements.
Replace The Batteries! In your smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector. It is very important to test these and replace the batteries often. Before they die. Adding this to your winterizing check list will ensure your devices work through out the season.
Protect Your Pipes! Check your local hardware store for pipe foam tubing. It has a slice in the middle to make it easy to form over the existing pipe. This will insulate your pipes and help to keep water from freezing on those unbearably cold winter nights.
Close the Door! Check under and above your door to the outside. If you can see light, you need to replace the weather stripping along the bottom of the door.
Did you like todays Tuesday Tip? You can find more tips and tricks HERE on our TUESDAY TIPS page!
All great tips and reminders for sure! I hope we can get some decent millage out of fall before it really starts to get cold. This is a great checklist to print and keep handy! Thanks much for sharing.
I was hoping Fall would stick around until April, but I don’t think that is going to happen around here.
I agree this is a great list of reminders for getting ready for winter. We’ve been mowing our leaves for years now; works great and is much less work. The one we hate to do is …clean the gutters.
You find to many spiders in the gutters! (UGH) Im not ready for winter, Fall can stick around til April 🙂
great tips Heather thanks so much for sharing