Get your home Autumn ready!

The temperature is noticeable cooler and the lanes around here are starting to smell of gorgeous log fires. Todays the first official day of Autumn and as such I have my list ready to get the house inside and out ready for the drop of temperatures in the next couple of months.

Interior

Fires

Nows the time to get your chimney swept of you haven’t this year and also I would highly recommend a Firemizer if you use a fire or log burner etc. It reduces the rate of burning and also helps spreads the heat across your fire which ensure all the fuel is burnt thoroughly – no half burnt logs – which will make your fire last longer.

Programmable thermometer

Having one of these not only makes your life easier but also helps you reduce costs. A low temp in the house when you aren’t there which increases just before you come home or an hour before you wakes ensures you are wasting your heat, you’re lowering your costs and carbon footprint and also preventing pipes being frozen!

Safety

Time to test your fire and carbon monoxide devices. If mains operated, change the  batterys for back up and check they are both working properly!

Drafts

Light a candle and take it around the edge of windows and doors. It’s a great way to see where cold air is coming in and your warm air is going out. Do you need to have draft excluders or heavier curtains in front of doors. Again this can save you money in the long run from higher bills as you can keep the heat in the home for longer.

Exterior

Gutters

Start these now before the cold really hits! Check your gutters – safely and ensure these are nice and clear. Chicken wire helps prevents leaves and bits and pieces falling in and blocking it up afterwards. Especially as the leaves start to drop next month.

Roof check. While you’re cleaning your gutters its worthwhile running an eye over the roof for missing or broken tiles. We tend to go up in the loft and look for damp patches too.

Garden

Give your evergreens a good water then empty the hose and store it away. Shut off your exterior taps (if you have an older house like ours turn off the valve inside the house too).

Trees – check these for loose or dead limbs which could fall down or fall on power cables.

Unless you’re hard core pop away your summer furniture or place winter covers on it all.

Spring bulbs. We all love seeing the first snowdrops and daff o dilllys popping up after Christmas so start putting these bulbs in now to get those smiles in spring.