Long & Foster Insurance offers maintenance tips for homeowners

Now that fall has arrived, it’s time to turn your attention to your home. The changing of the season always acts as a call to action for fine-tuning your home, and the onset of fall is no different. Below, Long & Foster Insurance, a leading independent insurance agency that represents many of the nation’s top rated insurance companies, offers five tips for getting your home fall-ready.

Check out your furnace. Nothing is worse than discovering your furnace is out-of-order on that first chilly fall night. Turn it on to make sure it is working and consider calling a professional to have it cleaned.

Update your windows. Fall is the time to take out your screens and install your storm windows. This will add extra protection and warmth to your home during those chilly nights.

Clean your gutters. After spring and summer, you might find a fair amount of debris lodged in your gutters, so make sure to give them a good clean now. Leaves can cause real problems when the temperatures drop, especially if you don’t remove them before the arrival of snow and ice.

Reverse your fan. By switching the direction your ceiling fans run, you will push warm air down into your home. While many people overlook this tip when readying their homes for fall, it is an easy way to save on energy bills and keep you more comfortable in your home.

Look for leaks. Walk the perimeter of your home and survey the basement, keeping an eye out for obvious leaks. Leaks and cracks not only can allow destructive moisture into your home, but also can invite critters inside. Once you’ve found a leak, seal it with weather-resistant caulk.

If you need help with these maintenance projects, Long & Foster’s Home Service Connections can connect you with a licensed and insured professional near you. Visit www.HomeServiceConnections.com for more information.