As a savvy homeowner, you surely have a routine to get your home ready for autumn and winter's cooler climates. While many homeowners remember to tackle projects like cleaning the gutters and preparing the fireplace, we'd like to tip you off to three often overlooked preparations you can make to get your home ready for the changing of the seasons. 

1. Reverse your ceiling fans

If your ceiling fan has a reverse switch, we recommend using it to make your fan rotate clockwise after you turn on the heat. Because of the blades' asymmetrical construction, changing the direction in which they move will reverse the direction they push the air.  Spinning clockwise, your fan will create an updraft, pushing warm air that rises to the ceiling down into the living area, helping you keep your home warm and reduce your heating costs. This is especially helpful in rooms with high ceilings, where warm air has more room to escape. 

2. Mulch leaves with your mower

Instead of raking the leaves of your lawn this autumn, try mulching them instead. Using your lawn mower without the bag attachment, cut the leaves (while they're dry) and leave them in the grass. Over the winter, the leaves will decompose and provide nutrients to your lawn. While it can be beneficial to mulch the leaves, you want to avoid just leaving them in the yard outright. If they're left whole, leaves can trap moisture underneath and between them, growing mold and rotting underneath the snow. 

3. Turn off exterior faucets

As temperatures drop, water in undrained faucets can freeze, causing pipes to burst. Before the nights get too cold, disconnect garden hoses and drain any water left in the faucets. If you don't have frost-proof faucets, you should also turn off the shut-off valve inside your home to prevent any extra moisture from damaging the pipes. 

For a free homeowners insurance quote, contact Fundy Mutual today.