* The proof’s in the weather, of course, (although, my goodness, warm pudding would be wonderful right about now) and where I live saw a huge shift in temperature yesterday (and things like the fact that my kids have no warm clothes that fit became very clear this morning). I live in Atlanta, and we could be back in flip flops and tank tops next week, so I’m not sounding the bell for wintry hibernation yet (although, my goodness, look at the USA TODAY weather map! Remember when it used to be all yellow and orange during the summer?) Now seems like a darn good time to get my “winter house in order,” so to speak.
* That means weatherstripping anywhere you feel a breeze coming in. Want to make this fun? My friend read a book once called Playful Parenting and that’s become a little joke between us, mostly when one of us is definitely not being playful! This idea does let you be The Playful Parent, however–get the kids to help you “investigate” breezes coming through window and door cracks on a windy day. Who needs expensive ballet lessons when you can dance from window to window on a “wind hunt”? (Who’s the Playful Parent now, huh?) As for weatherstripping options, you want the truth? I have yet to find a type I like, so every year I just keep trying something different (see more about my weatherstripping journey here). (Kinda’ sad that I have a weatherstripping journey, isn’t it?) Anyway, let me know if you have a weatherstripping solution you swear by (I know, I know it’s not nice to swear; don’t swear).
* Fireplaces need cleaning every year or two, and frankly, with National Fire Prevention Week just over, I’m not looking for any chimney fires anytime soon. Yes, yes, it would have been better to call the chimney sweep during the off-season when all those discounts were offered, but, hey, you didn’t, so here you go. Just do it. (I found the photo at this local company’s site.) If you don’t have a fireplace, it might be a good idea to add one (indoors or out) because a survey about “dream home features” found that fireplaces are among the top things future home buyers (Generations X and Y) value in a home.
* You’ll be spending more time inside as the weather gets colder, so why not get the carpet and house deep cleaned, the air ducts cleaned (don’t miss my air duct story, especially if you live in a new house), and the air filters changed? Indoor air is something like 90% dirtier than outdoor air, so these proactive steps could help you reduce allergies and illnesses when you’re curled up with your Snuggie (see Bust the Dust Mites and Get Rid of That Sneeze). (Go green and reduce exposure to toxins, especially if you have a baby crawling around.) And, by the way, don’t forget to dust the tops of those ceiling fans. Pushing the little button that makes the blades turn the other way can help pull warm air down to heat the room more efficiently, but bust the dust first.
Want more fall-into-winter (literally) maintenance ideas? DIY Network (where I found the weatherstripping photo above) has a nice round-up, as does Kudzu. The Kudzu Must-Do 52 weekly enewsletter this week includes mention of a heating system tune-up and a lawn cleanup as well. Looking for service pros to take care of some of these tasks for you? Find them on Kudzu. And spend more time being that Playful Parent.
