As the summer heat winds down, now has never been a better time to get a handle on those home improvement projects that you may have put off earlier in the season.
Maybe you never got around to these projects, or perhaps the temperatures were too hot for you. With the change in seasons, temperatures will soon start to drop, but the weather will still be warm enough to comfortably do some home improvement projects outdoors.
Why not take advantage of this time in the season?
Take a look below at five projects you can do now to get your home ready for fall and winter.
1. Clean Your Home’s HVAC System Ducts
Summer months usually are healthier months for families — my family included. But as we head into the fall and winter months, illnesses can find a way into the home.
Cleaning your home’s HVAC system ducts will help improve the air quality in your home for the upcoming months by keeping mold growth and dust to a minimum. By keeping mold and dust at bay, you should be able to reduce illnesses in your home.
2. Install New Windows to Replace Older Windows
Older windows can cause unwanted drafts. You might not notice drafts during the summer months, but during the colder months, drafty air entering your home can be problematic. By installing new windows now, you can prevent cold air from coming into your home through older, inefficient windows.
You should also know what is low e glass, as that can make new windows even more energy efficient.
Also if you are experiencing foundation failure in your home, take a look around to search for signs of failure such as gaps between windows and doors, sticking windows and wall cracks in windows. If you notice any of these windows and door problems, call a foundation professional.”
Any foundation crack is a bad sign. Sticking doors and windows are a major sign of foundation problems. Usually, gaps around doors and windows allow air to come into the home, and that can cause foundation movement. Foundation movement can cause walls to bow or twist – it could be the result of foundation crack.
3. Service Your Water Heater
Your water heater heats the water in your home, such as water needed for hot showers. To make sure your water heat works properly during the winter months, service your water heater during the summer. Once you complete the task, you won’t be blindsided by not having hot water when you need it.
4. Replace Your Home’s Siding
Just as older windows allow heat to escape from your home during the winter months, poorly insulated older home siding could also do the same. You won’t find any better time to install new siding on the exterior of your home than during the summer months.
5. Install New Insulation
Make sure your home is insulated properly, not only in your home’s siding and windows but also in the walls of your home. Installing new insulation in your home can keep your interior warm during the fall and winter months. In addition, new insulation can also help you prepare for next summer by keeping unwanted heat out of your home.
You can do all these home improvement projects yourself if you have the knowledge and are handy with tools. If you don’t feel comfortable tackling a particular project, however, enlist the help of a home improvement specialist at your local home improvement center.
Now that you have a place to start this summer with these five home improvement projects, what are you waiting for?
It’s your turn: Tell me which one of these home improvement projects you plan to start first.
