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4 min read

7 Ways To Prepare Your Home For Autumn

As autumn approaches, many homeowners begin thinking about the upkeep of their home. It’s not quite winter yet, but this time of year offers an excellent opportunity to get your home ready for the months ahead, whether it’s adding insulation or clearing the gutters of falling leaves. Here, we bring you 7 ways to prepare your home for autumn.

1) Maintain the boiler

Autumn isn’t necessarily the time to turn the heating up full whack, but as the nights get chillier, you certainly don’t want the boiler packing up. This is a good time of the year to check your boiler or central heating system to ensure it’s in good working order in the lead up to winter.

Inspect the pressure and get a service if needed. By identifying potential issues that may arise, you can safeguard yourself from any nasty surprises that could lead to an unheated home when the weather takes a turn. If you find any issues, enlist the help of a professional to fix the problem.

You might also want to look into the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS), where the government is providing grants to encourage property owners to install low carbon heating systems such as heat pumps.

2) Insulate your home

Not only can a well-insulated home keep you nice and toasty, but it’s also energy efficient and can reduce the energy bill. One of the best ways to make your home more energy efficient is to insulate the property and make it draught-proof. That involves proofing external doors, cracks in the window and possibly the loft if you have one.

Other areas you might not have previously considered can also be insulated, such as your keyhole. A purpose-made escutcheon with a fitted cover can prevent heat loss, as can a letterbox brush for the letterbox. Brush strip draught excluders are a great idea for stopping heat escaping under those gaps in the door.

3) Clear the leaves

There’s something magical about autumn with all the crisp, golden leaves falling to the ground. But while it all may look elegant, leaves falling into the gutters and piping can cause significant problems for homeowners. Autumn is a great time to get the ladder out and do some serious decluttering in the gutters.

Remove falling leaves and twigs to allow water to keep flowing correctly. You may also choose to put some hardboard at the bottom of the downpipe to stop debris from reaching the gully or drain and causing a blockage. When finished, it may be worth using a hosepipe to remove the remaining bits of debris in the gutters.

4) Give your home fresh lick of paint

Why not use this time of year to spruce up the interiors around the home? Getting your property in the autumn mood could add another dynamic, especially if the walls are looking a bit tired. Perhaps it’s time to go for a new colour or replace the existing walls with a fresh coat.

Even if you don’t want to make permanent changes, consider incorporating autumnal colours around the home with temporary fixes. That might come in the form of new accessories, such as homely throws in auburn, orange or beige colours.

5) Fix cracks in the walls

Fixing cracks in the walls can also help with insulation, but it has other benefits around the home. Aside from the aesthetics, which will look much better if there aren’t long cracks running down the wall, it stops the uninvited from gaining access to your home. That’s right; we’re talking about spiders and other creepy crawlies.

Fixing cracks is one of the best ways to stop bugs from coming into your house. Sealing the cracks around windows and other openings also prevents eight-legged friends from entering. For cracks that are particularly large, it’s worth getting a professional to investigate and check if there may be structural issues.

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6) Tidy the outside space

As well as sprucing up the indoors, don’t forget about your outside space. This is the time of year where many outdoor areas get left unattended, with weeds growing and the garden or front drive not looking as fresh as it should. You can avoid this by showing some love to the exteriors of your home.

Start by removing any outdoor summer furniture, so it doesn’t rot by being left unattended. You can also work on repairing cracks in the driveway to keep it looking tip-top. Filling them also stops water from freezing, which can lead to further damage if left unattended.

7) A deep clean

We all tend to spend more time indoors during the autumn and winter months. For that reason, now is a great time to give your home a nice clean and get it ready for the season ahead. Declutter the space and remove anything that isn’t offering you any real value, whether it’s clothes you no longer wear or small gadgets that don’t get any use.

You can also include candles and diffusers to create a cosy setting for a relaxing night in front of the TV while it’s frosty outside. There are plenty of scented and unscented options available that can give your house a different aura from the summer months.