The weather is getting cooler and school is back in session. This can only mean one thing … the fall season is officially here!

This is a beautiful time of year to start planning holiday trips and pull out all of the flannel bedding and couch blankets.

This is also a great time of year to make sure that your home is ready for the winter weather. During the fall season, not only do we transition from summer into winter, but we also transition from one extreme weather pattern to another.

The summer months are notorious for hot temperatures and keeping the windows open at night. Whereas, the winter months are much colder and require the heater to be turned up at night.

Since most homes have had the air conditioner on all summer – immediately switching to the heater in the coming months can be a little bit dangerous.

Your heating system has not been used for several months and it is important to make sure that it is ready when you switch the button to “ON”.

Here are a few things that you should do now, during the fall, to make sure that your heating and electrical systems are safe and ready for use when winter comes:

• Have your system professionally inspected to make sure that everything is clean and ready for use. The components will be inspected and checked for wear or damage. Also, various fluids will be topped off to make sure that the system is equipped to run properly.
• Change the filter on your system if you haven’t done so recently. It is recommended that your filter be changed once per month to reduce any chances of the motor burning out. There is a high-level of pollen in the air during the summer months and now that the fall is here it is good to change out the filter and get a fresh clean one in place.
• If you have any temporary electricity set-up around your home, this is the time to take them down. For instance, if you installed an extension cord to power a small refrigerator or radio outside during the summer months, this is the time to take it down and store it. As you are wrapping up the cord, be checking for any signs of damage. If there are any signs of damage, it is best to throw the cord away and buy a new one.

Use these few weeks of fall to make sure that your heating system and electrical system are ready for the winter weather. These systems see a lot more use during the winter months and it is a good idea to be proactive about making sure they are up to the task.