By Jessica Nellen

Autumn begins this Saturday, September 22nd. Are you ready for cooler temperatures and falling leaves? Is your house ready? We’ve rounded up a few tips to get your house in tip top shape for pumpkin spice season – I mean fall.

 

Interior

□  Have your furnace inspected. You likely haven’t used your heat in a few months so getting it checked before the first really cold night will ensure it is ready when you are
□  Winterize your air conditioning system by removing window units or clearing debris and covering central a/c units
□  Check your smoke detectors and replace batteries as needed
□  Check for leaks around sinks, showers, toilets and tubs
□  Clean lint from dryer ducts and behind dryer

 

Outdoor
□  Get up on your roof or hire someone to clean the gutters, check the roof surface for damage, and trim back tree limbs and vegetation away from roof
□  Make sure downspouts are directing water away from the foundation
□  If you have a septic tank, check and clean the filter and schedule a pumping if it is necessary. Your septic tank should be pumped every 1-3 years based on use and to comply with county regulations
□  Check your chimney for damage and have it cleaned and inspected to prevent chimney fires
□  Inspect trees, shrubs, and flowers and prune or trim as needed

 

I’m no meteorologist so I can’t make any promises but it looks like a great weekend to get outside and check some of these items off of your list.

PS If you’re as excited about fall as I am, check out the Wisconsin Fall Color Report to track the changing colors.