Get Quartz in your inbox

Free daily briefing on global business news.

Top things to do to get your home ready for the cozy months

Get your home ready for fall and winter with these simple maintenance tasks, from cleaning gutters and sealing drafts, to prepping outdoor spaces

Annie Spratt / Unsplash

As summer winds down, fall is a good time to tackle the home projects that are easier to handle before temperatures really drop. That can mean dealing with outdoor water fixtures before they freeze, checking your heating system, clearing out gutters or sealing the little gaps that let chilly air sneak inside. A few relatively simple jobs now may help prevent bigger—and potentially much more expensive—problems once winter arrives.

There’s also a softer side to the fall home reset. Pulling out warmer bedding, getting your fireplace ready and giving your outdoor spaces one last bit of attention can make the transition into cooler weather feel less abrupt. Even your thermostat and air filters deserve a spot on the seasonal to-do list.

Reader’s Digest rounded up some of the best ways to get your home ready for the colder months, from checking the heat and sealing drafts to cleaning gutters and prepping outdoor spaces. The goal is simple: tackle a few key jobs now so your home is ready for cozy season when temperatures drop. 

Here are five ways to prepare your home for the colder season ahead.

1. Give your heating system a head start before you actually need it

The worst time to discover your furnace needs attention is probably when the temperature drops and everyone in the house is already wearing three sweaters. Fall is a smart time to make sure your heating system is ready to do its job before you start relying on it every day.

Reader’s Digest recommends scheduling a furnace maintenance appointment before the colder season arrives. A professional checkup can include inspecting the furnace and making adjustments so the system operates properly and efficiently. It’s better to find out about a problem while you’re still enjoying relatively mild weather than during the first freezing night of the season.

Your thermostat deserves some attention too. Reader’s Digest notes that the U.S. Department of Energy recommends a fall home temperature between 68 and 78 degrees, while adjusting the temperature when you’re asleep or away can help reduce heating and cooling........

© Quartz