5 Ways to Prep Your Home for Fall Weather

It might be hard to believe in the middle of a blazing Arkansas August, but crisp mornings and pleasantly cool days are headed our way. Once the heat breaks, the Ozarks go through leaf fall, chilly evenings, and the first cold snaps in a matter of weeks. Fall is the best window to get a few things done around the house, before the weather makes them urgent. Here are five easy ones.

Test your safety devices

For most families, fall is the start of cozy season, with candles, a fire in the fireplace, and lots of slow cooker and stovetop meals. Before you settle in, change the batteries in your smoke detectors and test all of your home safety devices, so you know your systems are working as they should. That includes any carbon monoxide detectors, especially if you use a gas furnace or a fireplace. A quick press of the test button on each one takes only a few minutes.

Have your HVAC unit inspected

Fall is a lovely time to turn the air off and let in a cool outdoor breeze, but you want your system ready for the chilly evenings that are sure to come. That first cold morning is a bad time to find out the furnace has a problem, since everyone else in the neighborhood is discovering theirs on the same day. Allied can send a qualified technician out to inspect your HVAC unit and make sure it is all set.

Clean your gutters

Clean twigs, leaves, and debris out of your gutters before the trees really start to shed, so they are not clogged when the rain arrives. In Northwest Arkansas, where the clay soil drains slowly, water that spills over a clogged gutter tends to pool along the foundation. A sturdy ladder, a pair of gloves, and a garden hose to check the flow are enough for most single-story homes. Make sure the downspouts carry water well away from the house.

Inspect the chimney and change your filters

Wood fireplaces are nostalgic and give off a comforting scent like no other, but they can be dangerous if you do not have your chimney inspected and cleaned on a routine basis. Before you snuggle up by the fire and sip your cider, call a chimney professional to come out and make sure it is safe to operate.

The last item is a reminder that cannot be repeated enough: change your air filters. A fresh filter helps you keep the house at the temperature you want and helps your HVAC unit run efficiently without overexerting. Do it at the start of the season, and write the date on the frame so you remember to check it again.

• Change smoke detector batteries and test every safety device.
• Schedule an HVAC inspection before the first cold snap.
• Clear gutters and downspouts of leaves and twigs.
• Have a professional inspect and clean the chimney and fireplace.
• Put in a fresh air filter.

Keep the whole house on a schedule

Fall jobs are easier to remember when they are tied to a routine. Allied's A-Team memberships are built around that idea, with routine preventative maintenance and checkups meant to keep your home running as efficiently as possible. A-Team Red, at $198, includes one heating tune-up and one cooling tune-up per year.

If you want full confidence that your home's HVAC unit is ready for fall and winter, Allied's heating and air team can send a technician over to do a thorough inspection. Call (479) 278-4508.