With Fall right around the corner, it is important to begin thinking about the approaching cold weather and how it will affect your household. If you own your own home, you will be responsible for repairing or hiring someone to fix all the issues. The list is a bit simpler for renters, but it is still important to accomplish before winter. Follow along as we show you ways to prepare your rental home for Fall.

Test Furnace / Heater

It may still be too warm to use your furnace or heater(s). However, you want to ensure that you take the time to turn them on and ensure they are working properly. Be sure to turn any heaters or your furnace on long enough so you can tell if they will produce adequate heat. If your rental home has a stove, pay special attention to whether or not this is working properly. If it is not, you want to contact your landlord immediately to ensure there is time to resolve all issues before the cold weather hits.

It is also important to remember to change your furnace filter, as this could mean the difference between receiving warm or cold air or just getting a fan. Make sure you know how to change your filter, and if you have any questions about the replacement filter size or how to change it, contact your landlord immediately.

Check Doors and Windows

Doors and windows serve as our conduit to viewing the beauty of the outside world. Sometimes, though, they are the conduit that allows the extremes of the outside world into our home. Warm and cold air can escape and enter your home through cracks in or around doors or windows. Before Fall, you should check every window and door in your home for air leaks. From the inside of your home, you can feel the warm air entering (or cold if it is already winter), and from the outside, you can feel your cold air (or warm air if it is winter) leaving the home. Make a note of what needs to be repaired or prepared and what would need to be completed by your landlord. Don’t waste time; report any large issues directly to your landlord to ensure adequate repair time before facing unwanted weather conditions.

Check for Water Issues / Leaks

Water issues can cause a lot of problems when winter hits. From frozen pipes to damaged items due to leaks, when water freezes in your plumbing or around it, it can cause many headaches. Check all the water faucets inside and outside your home for leaks or needed repairs. The worst time to find these issues is when it is already frozen and nearly impossible to repair. So, report all problems to your landlord, as stated above, to ensure enough time to complete the repairs by winter.

Watch Gutters for Backup

Gutters may not seem like that big of a deal, but if winter hits and there is snow and ice on your roof and all of it melts into a stopped-up gutter, you may find your home looking like a deep, deep cave with icicles hanging from all around your gutters. The added weight of ice and snow in your gutters can also cause many issues. So take time during the end of summer and fall to watch your gutters for any signs that water may be backing up. If you notice spilling over the edge of your gutters, something needs to be unclogged. Contact your landlord and report any issues.

Smoke Detectors

Now, this isn’t only a “do in Fall” activity. Ensuring your smoke detectors are often working properly is important as they could mean the difference between life and death. However, if you regularly test your smoke detectors and replace the batteries during this time, you can ensure that any heaters or other things that may catch fire do not become a real problem. Keep your family safe, and always check your smoke detectors.

Do you have any tips for our readers? Do you have any advice we may be missing? We would love to hear from you! Share your message on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. If you have any questions or comments, don’t hesitate to contact us today.