Autumn is the ideal time to make little home improvements that could make a big difference once winter hits.

Get the furnace ready.  A clean, well-maintained furnace will perform better, helping to keep fuel costs down and making the home’s air quality better.  Remember to change the air filter every thirty days.  A dusty, clogged air filter will cause the furnace to work harder, reducing its efficiency and causing it to wear out sooner than necessary.

Check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.  With furnace weather on the horizon, you will also want to make sure  smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are functioning correctly.  The life expectancy of a smoke alarm is generally 10 years, after which point their sensors can begin to lose sensitivity.  The test button only confirms that the battery, electronics, and alert system are working; it doesn’t mean that the smoke sensor is working.  The detecting components of carbon monoxide detectors lose their effectiveness after 5 to 7 years and may no longer detect carbon monoxide.

Check the roof.  It’s important to check the condition of a home’s roof before winter. The key things to look for are cracked or damaged shingles and caulking issues.  Caulked joints can dry out and crack during the summer months making openings for melting winter snow to enter the home.

Improve the air quality.  Mold and mildew thrives during the summer in poorly ventilated areas like a home’s basement or around leaky pipes.  There a number of good products sold at places like Lowe’s and Home Depot that will help eliminate mold before you’ve button up the home for the winter.

Replace weatherstripping on doors.  There could be gaps that you can’t see and that can jack up your energy costs.  It’s a simple fix that can be done with items found at your local hardware store.

Clean gutters and downspouts.  Clogs in gutters and downspouts can cause ice to form into an ice dam.  With nowhere to go the water backs up under the shingles and leaks into your home.