School bells are ringing, and the leaves are about to change colors. Fall is nearly here, and while you may remember to shop back-to-school supplies and get ready for Monday night football, you probably haven’t given your home maintenance much thought. Fall home maintenance is key to saving time and money as well as preventing headaches down the road.
Check out these top 10 tips for transitioning your home from battling summer heat to handling the crisp autumn chill.

1. Make sure your fireplace is ready to go. Even if you’re completely dependent on your heater in the cold weather, fireplaces are a winter treat. Have a professional inspect and clean your chimney before you throw on some logs. Also, be sure you stock up on firewood now before the cold weather increases demand (and prices!). Once you’ve stocked up, store the wood safely in a dry place away from your home.
2. Clean your gutters. When the weather changes and the leaves start to fall, it’s likely they will clog your gutters. It’s best to clear and clean them now to prevent hassle later.
3. Inspect your house. A major part of fall home maintenance is surveying the home itself. Look at your roof. Ensure that your shingles are intact and ready to keep out the cool air. Then, inspect the siding on your house for cracks and gaps that need to be filled.
4. Watch out for water. Turn off faucets and drain hoses. To prevent freezing, you want there to be as little water as little as possible.
5. Stock up on gasoline. Without gasoline, your winter equipment is useless. Stock up now so that when you need your generator, you don’t have to drive to the store to get gas.
6. Look at your lawn. There is a lot to do in your yard and flowerbed. Fertilize your lawn and plant bulbs now. Bring in flowerpots. Check trees for weak limbs that should be removed before a winter storm snaps them.
7. Assess your winter equipment. With your air conditioner running and summer still here, it’s hard to even think about picking up your snow blower. But, you need to turn it on and make sure it’s working properly. Also, if you have a backup generator to combat power outages, make sure the summer heat hasn’t diminished its condition.
8. Stand near your windows. When you’re inside your home, take a moment to stand near your windows and doors. Do you feel air coming inside? If so, there are gaps to be filled. Plugging them keeps your electricity costs down and prevents your heater from working overtime.
9. Utilize a programmable thermostat. If you don’t have a programmable thermostat, get one. Setting one based on your heating habits saves you both money and the hassle of constant monitoring.
10. Inspect your furnace and ready your air conditioner. Of all the steps to transition your home smoothly into fall, this is the most important one. Turn on your furnace and make sure it’s working properly before you need it to combat the cold. Or, because furnace repair can be frustrating, have a professional inspect it. Also, take the time to cover your outdoor air conditioner or remove any window air conditioners in order to prevent leaks.

Be sure to share these fall home maintenance tips on social media to save your friends and neighbors from autumn hassles! Plus, check out more convenient heating and cooling tricks to save you money.
Schedule your tune-up with MoreVent Heating, Cooling and Plumbing today. Tune-ups done right save you money in the long run.
For fast and convenient service, give us a call:

• Chester County, PA: 610.431.1616
• Delaware County, PA: 610.565.9999
• Montgomery County, PA: 610.879.0511