With Fall just around the corner and Winter looming, there are many things that you can do to prepare your home for the upcoming cold seasons. These 7 helpful tips and tricks from Reader's Digest will help you get the Job Done easily as the temperature cools and becomes unpredicatable. 1. Clear out the gutters. Remove leaves and other debris from your drainpipe and gutters to prevent clogging. In areas with cold winters, outdoor faucets should be drained in the fall. 2. Clean the fireplace and chimney. You can clear out ash and charred wood from the fireplace yourself, but leave the chimney cleaning to a professional. Have the chimney cleaner check the damper to ensure it can be tightly closed to prevent drafts. 3. Check the heating system. Do a survey of your home’s heating vents to make sure they’re not blocked or covered by furniture, carpeting, or curtains. Dust vents and clean all filters. Make an appointment for an annual heating system check-up. 4. Store air conditioners. If you have removable window air conditioners, be sure to unplug them before taking them down. Dust and clean before covering or storing. 5. Check for drafts. Stay warm, save energy, and reduce your heating bills this fall by examining windows and doors for cracks and sealing them to prevent drafts. 6. Put up storm windows. If you have removable screens, now’s the time to clean, store, and replace them with storm windows. 7. Ready the water heater. Prepare for cooler weather by draining the water heater and clearing out any debris that has settled in the tank. Read more: http://www.rd.com/home/improvement/prepare-your-home-for-fall-and-winter/#ixzz2e2oBUvws
