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Now that we have officially entered the fall season, it is time to prep our homes for the cold weather.
Though fall and winter is a break from tornadoes and tropical storms, snowstorms and ice storms can wreak havoc on large parts of the United States.
From cutting the power inside homes to destroying outdoor furniture — to pretty much everything in between — there’s a lot to worry about when it comes to winter weather.
However, here are some easy things you can do right now to prepare yourself and your home for the cold months ahead.
If you’re lucky enough to have a patio with outdoor furniture, now may be a good time to pack it away for the winter.
Snow, sleet, and heavy rain could severely damage even hardy pieces of furniture.
Not to mention, you probably won’t be sitting outside during the winter season (at least not for very long).
But, if you are planning on enjoying your outdoor furniture for another few weeks, make sure to invest in some durable covers that you can throw over your pieces just in case.
If you want to avoid ice dams forming in your gutters, make sure to clean those things out ASAP!
They’re already probably a little bit clogged due to the spring and summer rain, but it’s important to drain them before it gets too cold outside.
If you don’t, you could end up with a flooded interior or a damaged exterior, and nobody wants that.
There’s nothing worse than figuring out your snowblower doesn’t work after a giant snowstorm that leaves your driveway covered in thick snow.
Do your future self a favor — especially if you live somewhere that gets a lot of snow during the winter — and check your equipment now.
Or, if you don’t have winter equipment but hate dealing with snow, maybe consider investing in some durable products that will make your life easier.
Odds are you’ll probably want to use your fireplace when it starts to get a little chilly outside, but it’s important to make sure you don’t have anything in your chimney.
After months and months of not using it, there could be branches, leaves, and even animals inside there, so it’s always a good idea to make sure it’s cleared out.
Though it’s possible to check this out on your own, hiring a chimney cleaner may be the way to go.
