As summer winds down, it’s a great time to prepare your home for the changing seasons. Implementing energy-efficient practices can help you save money and reduce your environmental impact. We’ve gathered some tips to help you and your family get your home ready for the end of summer.
Clean Your Gutters: Summer storms can cause debris to collect in your gutters. By cleaning them, you can prevent blockages and damage from the added weight, ensuring that water can flow freely.
Power Wash: The change of seasons is a good time to refresh your home and address the buildup on and around it.
Check Your HVAC System: Due to the humid summer air, your filter may become clogged with moisture and dust, which can harbor bacteria, mold, and other toxins.
Air Leaks: Air leakage can contribute to moisture problems and even affect your health and your home’s durability.
Smoke Alarms: Changing the batteries in your smoke alarms at the end of summer helps create a consistent yearly schedule. As temperatures drop and people spend more time indoors, the risk of fire-related accidents increases.
Grill: Cleaning your grill at the end of summer helps it last longer and perform better. Removing food residue and buildup prevents moisture, rust, mold, and corrosion. If your grill is stored outside, ensure it is completely dry, clean and covered.
Garden Hose: To extend the life of your garden hose, drain any remaining water, neatly loop it without kinks, and store it away from direct sunlight.
Driveway: Sealing cracks in your driveway helps prevent water damage during winter. When water seeps into small cracks and freezes, it can cause gaps in the soil, leading to sunken spots.
Programmable Thermostat: Using a programmable thermostat can save energy and money. Program it to adjust temperatures throughout the day based on your schedule.
As the seasons transition from summer to fall, taking these proactive steps can ensure your home’s upkeep and enhance its energy efficiency. By addressing these tasks, you can tackle potential issues before they become costly problems. The goal is to protect your home and optimize your energy use. Embracing these simple yet effective measures will make your home more comfortable, efficient and secure as the seasons change.
You can also protect your home from higher utility bills this fall by enrolling on a fixed price plan from a supplier, like AEP Energy, for your electricity and natural gas supply (Ohio only). Check out our plans here.
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