Must-Do Fall Projects to Prep Your Home for Winter

It’s never too early to check gutters, seal windows, and tune up the heating system before winter weather sets in.
Must-Do Fall Projects to Prep Your Home for Winter
Readying a home in the fall helps to ensure safety, warmth, and comfort in the cold months ahead. svetikd/Getty Images
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Albert Camus was correct when he stated, “Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.” Fall is a happy season of pumpkin spice lattes, harvest festivals, and a refreshing nip in the air after all that summer heat and humidity. Take full advantage of it by getting the winterizing home checklist out of the way early.

This head start allows a homeowner to space out the work over several days or weekends as needed—with the benefit of more temperate working conditions.

Shorter Days Are Coming

Inspect exterior lights to make sure they’re in good condition. Replace any bulbs that have burned out and entire fixtures that have lived out their useful lives. Also, consider adding additional illumination, particularly around walkways and driveways. Check out end-of-season sales at home and garden centers for discounted solar lights.

Free-Flowing Gutters

Get out the ladder, garden hose, gutter scoop (or a kitchen spatula in a pinch), thick gloves, and safety goggles. The last two will protect you from any roof nails, screws, and other sharp debris that may be hidden among the leaf and twig debris in the gutters.
Sandy Lindsey
Sandy Lindsey
Author
Sandy Lindsey is an award-winning writer who covers home, gardening, DIY projects, pets, and boating. She has two books with McGraw-Hill.