The fall season boasts cooler days and even chillier nights. This means a change in your wardrobe and a change in your home maintenance! While you’re enjoying the cool breeze and pumpkin-orange hues of fall, make sure your home is ready for the change in temperature.

Whether you live in a relatively temperate climate or a place where fall means snow isn’t far behind, the shift into the fall season will bring about a new set of challenges for homeowners. Here’s a checklist on how to prepare your home in the fall before it takes the hit from winter:

• Check the heating system. If you own a central air system, it should be serviced by a licensed technician twice a year. The furnace should be serviced in the fall and the A/C system should be serviced in the spring, just before the warmer and cooler seasons start. Regular servicing ensures a more fuel-efficient, long-lasting system in the long run. You will also want to make sure your air ducts and filters are clean.
• Clean the gutters. With all the fallen leaves, twigs and debris, the last thing you want is a clogged gutter. Rain and melted snow can overflow and damage the foundation of your home if the gutters are not cleared out. Avoid damages by removing the debris and using a hose to spray away all the dirt.
• Check chimney and fireplace. Make sure your chimney and fireplace are cleaned before using it. Clogged chimneys could turn into an expensive repair at best or a chimney fire at worst. Chimneys and fireplaces should be inspected annually by a chimney sweep to maintain safer operation.
• Inspect the roof. Ice, rain, snow, and wind can cause serious damage to roofs with loose or missing shingles. Don’t risk the chance of a storm that could lead to a water damage hazard. Get a certified roofing professional to examine the condition of your roof and make repairs if necessary.
• Drain the water heater. Sediments tend to build up inside the tank over time, which can impede efficiency and compromise water quality. Be proactive by draining and flushing out the water in the tank. If the hot-water heater is old or rusty, replace it with a newer and more energy-efficient model.
• Inspect windows and doors for drafts. Repair any drafts you may have to get the most out of your HVAC during the cold season. Air leaks from windows and doors can cause heat to escape and induce costly consequences. Apply weather stripping or caulk to small drafts to prevent your home from suffering leaks.
• Examine the driveway and deck. Check your driveway for cracks and have it repaired before the rain and cold worsen the damage. Fix the cracks with commercial driveway filler and then coat it with a commercial sealer. Inspect your deck for wood damage and consider applying a coat of sealer for protection. The experts at a fence company in Montgomery County, Pa., say to make sure your deck fence is up to date as well. You can replace broken slats, put a fresh stain on a wood fence, or power wash aluminum and vinyl fencing.
• Store seasonal furniture and equipment. Put away any outdoor patio furniture that you won’t be using during the winter. If you have any yard equipment or summer gardening tools, it’s time to clean and store them inside. While you’re doing that, don’t forget to make sure your snow equipment like shovels, roof rakes, and snow blowers are up and ready to use before the first flurry falls.
• Reverse the direction of your ceiling fans. Some fans have a reverse switch which allows it to change its direction to clockwise. This creates an upward draft that helps circulate hot air and distribute the heat more evenly throughout the room, potentially saving you money on your electricity bill.

Getting your home in shape for the cooler season may seem like a lot of work, but keep in mind that these precautionary measures will protect what is most likely your biggest investment – your home! These tips brought to you by Kathleen Monteleone, a Randolph, NJ interior decorator.