10 Tips to Prepare Your Home for Fall

September 22, 2021

Today marks the official end of summer and beginning of fall. While you may be ready to start whipping out the scented candles, sweaters and pumpkins, there are quite a few more practical things to consider to make sure your home is ready for the chilly new season. Here are ten tips for preparing your home for the fall and transition into winter.

dog on a leash

1. Check for Drafts

Heat loss throughout your home can really rack up energy costs throughout the fall and winter. Check for drafts around your windows and doors and seal any air leaks with weatherstripping or caulk. Weatherstripping is a simple and cost-effective way to keep things warm and cozy in your home and keep heating costs down.

Summer home backyard patio TV

2. Get a Smart Thermostat

Speaking of keeping things cozy, there’s no time like the present to finally upgrade your thermostat to a smart, programmable system. Rather than keeping the heat on full blast 24/7, you can program a smart thermostat to run on a schedule, adjusting when the house is empty, or when everyone is asleep. Then, you can control is remotely to make sure things are just right when you arrive home.

kids sliding down home stairs

3. Inspect the fireplace

Before you start gathering ‘round the cozy fire, you’ll want to get a professional inspection done to check your fireplace and chimney for any hazardous buildup and blockages.

4. Inspect the furnace

This is another that we recommend letting a pro handle, but if you’re going for it yourself, you’ll want to start with inspecting the filter and replacing it if it’s dirty. This simple tip will go a long way, as a dirty filter can restrict airflow and cause the furnace to overheat. Test the furnace out to make sure it’s working correctly without shutting off prematurely.

 

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5. Clean out the gutters

In anticipation of all the leaves that are sure to be piling up on and around your home, you’ll want to clear out your gutters and ensure they don’t become clogged up. This can help prevent roof damage and/or indoor leaks.

6. Inspect your roof

Grab your binoculars and look closely for any missing or damaged shingles. Chances are, your roof saw lots of rain and wind over the summer. If you’ve got any leaks (no matter how minor they seem), you’ll want to take care of them before winter temperatures and winds make the problem worse and even disastrous.

video camera and family playing

7. Test your detectors

You should test out your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors regularly, but this will be especially timely as you may be using your fireplace and heater more.

Bonus tip: Always keep a stash of batteries handy in case you need to replace them in your detectors, but also in case of emergency. You may need them for flashlights and other devices.

8. Test your generator

You’ll definitely want to do this now before winter hits. In the event of a bad snowstorm, or a simple power outage when it’s freezing, you’d hate to realize that your generator isn’t running when you need it most. For gas-powered generators, make sure you have enough fuel on standby.

9. Trim your landscaping

Cut back on any shrubs, trees, etc. that may have become overgrown over the summer. Remove any dead or decaying tree branches, especially those in danger of falling onto your roof. Not only does all this pruning promote growth, but it can help improve visibility throughout your yard so that you can easily scan around your house through your security cameras.

10. Replace driveway and walkway cracks

Do an inspection to find any cracks on concrete walkways, steps, and your driveway. When the temperatures drop, cracks can become worse as water fills them, freezes, and expands. Patch them up to prevent any accidents or worse damage.

Ready to upgrade your home?

Many of our Fall Prep tips are pretty simple and low-tech. But if you’re interested in adding on smart lights, improving your home security before the holidays, and more, we can help! Reach out to us at 678-566-2640 or sales@phoenixsystems.tv and a Phoenix Rep will be happy to discuss your smart home needs and options!

Lighting is an essential and powerful element of any home’s design. When designed with intention, lighting can not only make your home feel warmer and more welcoming, but it can increase productivity, highlight your favorite areas of your house, and add character. Plus, choosing the right bulbs and fixtures from your home can impact energy efficiency. 

There are four main types of lighting you should keep in mind when designing or revamping your home. Each serves its own purpose and comes in a variety of options.

Ambient Lighting

Ambient lighting provides the overall illumination and sets the mood for a room. Typically, it floods the room with lighting from above, from ceiling-mounted lights and ceiling fans. Wall sconces can also provide enough lighting to brighten a room.

Of course, ambient lighting can come in a variety of styles which can work well in larger rooms like kitchens and living rooms. Ceiling lights can be dome-shaped flushed fixtures, or recessed lights for a sleeker and more minimal look. They can be a part of a ceiling fan or stand alone for a bold statement-making chandelier. Or, tall floor lamps can provide excellent ambient lighting, especially in rooms with high ceilings.

Accent Lighting

Accent lighting is more dedicated to style than function. With the use of directional track lights or spotlights, you can guide the eyes toward artwork or architectural elements within your home that deserve special attention.

This type of lighting can add character to your home, setting the stage for your favorite spaces and pieces to shine. Options like cove lighting can be installed near your tray ceiling or crown molding to bring those features to life.

Task Lighting

There are a lot of tasks and activities we perform in our homes on a daily basic. From cooking and preparing your morning coffee to reading, writing, and working at home. Task lighting can illuminate the necessary areas for you to do your best work. 

Under-cabinet lighting is a great way to brighten up the counter tops when you’re prepping meals, while also highlighting your beautiful backsplashes, countertop décor, coffee bar, and more. Then, when it’s time to settle in for the night, task lighting by your bedside can help you crack open a good book to wind down.

Natural Lighting

Never underestimate the power of natural lighting within your home. Sunlight streaming in through your windows can instantly make a home feel more welcoming and comfortable. Of course, while we have no power over the sun outside, we can manage the ways we incorporate it into our lighting design through smart shading.

With a variety of fabric options, you can let just enough light in to brighten your home, while also controlling unnecessary glares, or even keeping your bedroom dark and cozy.

Source: Control4

Get Smarter About Lighting

The lighting in your home should feel intuitive and comforting, not cumbersome and overwhelming. With so many lights in your house, it can help to integrate them all into your smart home system. This way, you can manage them all from a single app, or even automate them based on your routines and energy-management needs. Smart lighting systems can even make your home safer, so you never come home to a dark house, and you can deter intruders while you’re on vacation.

 Phoenix Systems offers free consultations with our smart home pros to help design and install lighting solutions that work for you.