How To Get Your Home Ready For Fall The question on everyone's mind today is, "What happened to the summer?" Although there will be a burst of warm weather, we are quickly transitioning to the fall and it's time to do a little prep work around the house to make sure your home is ready. Here's what you need to do: Check for Drafts The next time the wind is blowing strong outside is a good chance to check for drafts around the edges of windows and doors. If you don't want to wait for the win, then use a lighted candle. Any flickering of the flame means there's probably a draft. If a draft is discovered, then you'll want to replace the seals or repair any caulking around the windows and doorframes. Heavy insulated drapery is good for drafty windows, too. Get Your Furnace Inspected It might have been several months since you last turned on the heat. It's a good time to get your furnace inspected especially if you haven't done that in a while. To improve heating efficiency you'll want to check for leaks and change the any filters. If you don't already have carbon monoxide sensors installed in your home, then it's a good thing to do. Winterize Your Air-Conditioning It is a good idea to keep your central air-conditioning unit covered during the fall and winter when it will start raining. In fact, keeping that unit covered in shade is a good idea year-round. Install a Programmable Thermostat A programmable thermostat is a great improvement over a standard thermostat. This will let you set a timer on your heater. It works best to heat up your house on the way home versus keeping the heat on all day. If you already have a programmable thermostat and make sure you set it at the right temperature. The recommended is 68° for the fall and winter. Test Your Home Safety Devices It's always a good habit to swap out your smoke detector batteries every time the clocks change. If you forgot in the spring, then it's definitely something you want to do in the fall to avoid that annoying chirp! Toss Out the Clutter Finally, the best way to get your home ready for the fall is to make sure all your unwanted clutter is removed. This may not have anything to do with energy efficiency but will certainly improve your living conditions. One call the Junk King Chico can make this all happen with very little effort on your part. Junk King Chico will provide the two-man moving crew and a big truck capable of hauling away all the things you want to get rid of in one single session. Start the fall season off right in a home that's free of junk thanks to Junk King Chico. How To Get Your Home Ready For Fall