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6 Fall DIY Home Projects That Can t Wait

Get ready for winter by checking gutters pipes heating systems

ziggy1/Getty Images Shorter days and cooler weather make it tempting to curl up under a blanket and hibernate until spring. It’s a good plan, but before the snow flies, cross these six off your list .
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1 Clean the gutters br

The first snowfall of the season is not the time to learn your gutters are filled with debris or too loose to handle the weight of the snow. “Falling leaves can create a buildup , and when it rains or eventually snows and the snow melts, the water will need a clear path to run,” says Steve Cunningham , owner of Cunningham Contracting and chair of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). “Making sure you have clear downspouts has the same reasoning , [so] debris does not build up.” Clean your gutters, or better yet hire a pro to tackle the job. While you're at it, look for areas where gutters are loose and may have torn away from the house. Reattach them using gutter spikes, brackets or hangers. Clean, well-secured gutters are essential to protect the foundation of your home and reduce the risk of basement flooding.

2 Check smoke detectors

AlexRaths/Getty Images When you change the clocks to standard time, change the batteries in your smoke detector.
“Fall is a great time to install new batteries as you are preparing your home for cooler months,” says Amy Rea, senior fire and life safety educator for the Charlotte Fire Department in North Carolina. Remember, if your alarm chirps—a sign the battery is low—replace it, no matter the time of year. : It’s as simple as pushing the button to make sure the alarm goes off. Don’t ignore hardwired smoke detectors; many have battery backups and those batteries need to be replaced, too. You should also replace any smoke detectors that are over 10 years old. "Alarms are constantly checking the air for smoke , and ,” Rea says. Entertainment $3 off popcorn and soft drink combos See more Entertainment offers >

3 Hire a chimney sweep

A chimney sweep isn’t just a character from Mary Poppins. These fireplace pros remove soot and creosote that build up in the chimney and pose a fire risk. A professional chimney sweep , certified through the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) , will clean the chimney and inspect the entire fuel venting system for warped metal on the damper, cracked or collapsed flue tiles, cracks in the exterior masonry and other signs of fire damage. The National Fire Protection Association recommends an annual chimney inspection. Russ Dimmitt, CSIA's director of education, notes that a clean chimney makes it safer to build a cozy fire in the winter; it’ll also make your fireplace more efficient. “A chimney that has been swept not only helps prevent chimney fires but will also aid your fireplace ... to operate more efficiently as the smoke and other flue gases can exit the chimney more quickly,” Dimmitt explains.

4 Perform furnace maintenance

Call in the pros before turning on the heat. Regular maintenance ensures that your furnace runs at peak efficiency. Without semiannual maintenance (in the spring before running the air condition e r and in the fall before turning on the heat), airborne allergens may get trapped in the filters, resulting in poor Cunningham suggests having the furnace inspected to make sure it’s in good working order and changing the filters before starting it up for the first time. Furnaces that are not cleaned at least once a year can wear out more quickly and can stop working altogether. And soaring energy costs make it more important than ever to ensure the furnace is running efficiently. ​ AARP NEWSLETTERS %{ newsLetterPromoText }% %{ description }% Subscribe AARP NEWSLETTERS %{ newsLetterPromoText }% %{ description }% Subscribe AARP VALUE & MEMBER BENEFITS See more Health & Wellness offers > See more Flights & Vacation Packages offers > See more Finances offers > See more Health & Wellness offers > SAVE MONEY WITH THESE LIMITED-TIME OFFERS