Getting your home Autumn ready.
- Sep 24, 2023
- 7 min read
Created: 24.9.2023
Many of us don't want to think about the cooler weather and the darker nights, but investing a little time now in preparation with allow us to better enjoy all the good things autumn and winter have to offer. Plus getting ready now will make us feel like organisation kings and queens!
Don't be overwhelmed
This is a big list we have here so don't feel you have to do everything, start with the things which need the most urgent attention and are weather dependant, and once they are done move on to the next. Remember everything you do will have a positive benefit for you and your home. Somethings will help others too so if you tidy that room and have things to sell you could put the money towards a new camera or roof repair. Consider a talent exchange for example: offering to freshen your neighbours curtains could be exchanged for them doing some pointing - assuming you both have those skills!
There is help and support out their for those in need of it. We aim to write about the helpers wherever we can. A good place to start is the NHS and local council websites.
Keep Warm
Check your boiler | Bleed your radiators | Find your cold spots | Insulate | Window Coverings | Bedding & Throws | Clean the gutters | Do the DIY |
When we feel the cold it can seriously impact our health and well-being, the good news it there's lots of positive steps we can take to make our spaces warmer.
Check your boiler
If you rent your landlord is legally required to provide a gas safety certificate, if you own getting your boiler checked can be something which gets overlooked.
Bleed your radiators
Excess air can get trapped in your gas central heating system which prevents the water circulating efficiently, this makes your heating less efficient and more costly to run. The process of removing this air is called bleeding. You should always bleed your radiators when the heating is switched off and bleeding them should be done each year. Making now the best time of year to do this is before you start to use your heating again.
Find your cold spots
You might already know where the cold spots in your home are, if not some organisations have a thermal camera which can help show you. Once you know where they are it's easier to work out what to tackle first.
The results can be surprising. I once rented rooms in a really old building, no matter what we did we couldn't get it warm. I asked the landlord many times what it could be, he was shifty about it. I had an SBEN review they suggested all the usual things but couldn't offer any real explanation. A visit to my building neighbour revealed that there was a 3 meter section of my external wall which was just plasterboard and open to the elements! No wonder the landlord was shifty. If I'd have had access to a camera then that would have immediately revealed the cold spot. The wall looked fine from my side, impossible to tell. We moved the following week.
Insulate
If your cavity walls, doors and windows and loft are insulated already - well done! If not check out any granting options you might be entitled to. This will help keep you warmer and save money too. Something we plan to do this year (post alert) is to insulate behind our radiators. This will help throw the heat into the room. We've used superfoil.co.uk for a few projects now. They have a free to download Complete Insulation Guide to help you figure out what to do and how to save money too.
Window Coverings
Now is a great time to get your curtains cleaned before the dark nights draw in. If you plan to keep them its worth getting them professionally cleaned, check out your local laundry, it might seem costly but is well worth doing. If your curtains have the traditional 3 line header tape you can add a lining which will improve the appearance and help keep your space warmer. If you are opting to replace it's worth considering getting a lined or thermal backed curtain set.
Bedding & Throws
Time to check your bedding and blankets are ready for those cosy nights in. On the next dry day you can give them an airing on the washing line, but if like us you don't want to risk rain, give them a quick garment steam or light iron and a good spray of fabric freshener. We like to roll ours to save space and make them into little cushions.
Clean the gutters
Cleaning the gutters will help lengthen the life of your guttering and stop you having to do it later on. If they get blocked the weight of water and ice can cause costly repairs.
Book an appointment with someone to clean them if you are unable to do them yourself. Be sure to include outbuildings with gutters too. If you like us are close to trees the best time is once the autumn leaves have fallen. Your window cleaner might offer this service.
Do the DIY
It's much easier with longer days and warmer weather to get those little jobs done, so it's a good idea to do those things you've been putting off. Check the outside of your building for cracks, missing tiles etc especially around doors and windows where water or wind can come in. See our forum post about lime mortar and do make sure you use the right product, matching the colour on your mortar is even more important than your walls because it's really difficult to fix if you get it wrong.
Lighting and Safety
It's easy to forget when the days are long how much we rely on good lighting during the darker months. Here are a few things you can do to improve your lighting before the clocks change.
Lamps and Bulbs
Dust loves lamps and light fittings and often goes unnoticed. Your bulbs will shine brighter on an autumn evening once they have has a wipe over. Always make sure the fitting is off and don't use anything wet. We like antibacterial floor wipes which give a good fast result - something you need if you are up a ladder!
A regular dust with a telescopic synthetic duster keeps fittings dust and spider free (mostly) too.
It's also worth doing a lamp inventory and booking a local electrician for any things you might want to change. No-one wants to be up a ladder in the dark and a lamp inventory will help you know what sort of bulbs you have in each fitting. It's also worth checking that you are not exceeding the maximum voltage for the fitment and swapping to led bulbs if you haven't already. This will save you money on your electricity.
We've created a spreadsheet for our inventory room by room with fitment name and number and type of bulbs. Once we know what we have we'll be making sure to keep a spare of each type of bulb making changing them much easier.
One of the things we are doing is changing our studio system so that instead of all the lights coming on at once they are individually switched so that we won't be paying for what we aren't using.
Test your carbon monoxide and smoke detectors
You can ask your local fire service to do a home safety review. This is something we get done every few years to give us peace of mind. They test the alarms too.
Review your security
Cameras, alarms and outdoor lighting all help deter thieves. This is too big a topic to cover here but your local electrician or alarm company can help.
Make it pretty
Autumn and winter can make us feel sad and many of us spend much more time indoors. Here are a few ways to help your home feel pretty.
Fragrances
As summer turns to autumn you might want to change your home fragrances. We have Ambi Pur 3volution fresheners. I checked out the Savers website and a room fragrance makeover with cost £3. I'm going to try the exotic fruit, sounds autumny right?
Flowers and Accessories
All the lovely autumn tones are now coming into our favourite stores, best to grab the ones you love whilst they are still new. We like T K Maxx because there is a new beautiful bargain every week.
You can consider bringing the outdoors in. If you have plants you need to move indoors for winter consider getting a pretty pot and giving it pride of place in your lounge or kitchen. Its uplifting to have something living to see in your home when the garden looks dead.
Paint project
There are great paint offers on right now so it's a good time to buy. Remember paint takes longer to dry the colder the environment so we recommend tackling this soon. Plus you'll feel ready for winter gatherings. If you still have outdoor painting to do like us, do those first.
Edit your Home
A wet weekend is the perfect time for a home edit. No one wants to be going to the tip in the snow!
Tackle a room at a time have 3 boxes donate, sell or tip. This is a great way to make extra cash for Christmas or make room for new toys etc. As soon as you have a decent pile get rid. Our local tip has a container for a local hospice so we only need to make one trip for disposal. Do check the opening hours of your local tip before setting off, ours closes for two weekdays and unloading the car to reload later in the week is no fun!
About the Author:
Sharon Roberts is our Home, DIY and acting Business Advisor. She's been renovating homes and businesses for many years. She's a committed environmentalist and saver who hopes to help you find a bit more bliss.
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