Embrace the changing seasons

If you’re like my household, you probably have some really sad kids and some really happy adults because school is starting back up. I don’t work from home, so the kids being home all day doesn’t really change much for me. I just like the routine that comes when everyone is back in school. I’ll miss those late nights when someone says, “Hey Dad, let’s go catch lightning bugs,” or we end up jumping in the pool after dinner when we probably should be getting ready for bed. But we’ll still have the weekends for that. And every year I’m reminded that back to school shopping is really just buying the same things we already have in different colors.

If we realize it or not, we all live by some kind of routine. Even if you’re retired, there’s still a rhythm to the day. Coffee in the morning, taking medications, letting the dog out, or taking the trash to the road. Life just works better when things fall into place. As much as I’m looking forward to things slowing down, I also know I’ll miss the busy pace once it’s gone. That got me thinking this is a good time to add a few small things into our routine around the house. Nothing big, just a few simple things that can help your home run a little more efficiently heading into cooler weather.

Here are a few things to work into that routine:

• Replace or check your furnace or HVAC filter. If you hold it up and can’t see light through it, it’s probably time to change it.
• Schedule a furnace or heat pump check-up before cold weather hits. It’s a lot nicer to find problems now than on the first really cold morning.
• Check weatherstripping around doors. If you feel a draft or see daylight, you’re basically heating the outdoors.
• Inspect caulking around windows and doors for cracks or gaps.
• Take a look at your attic insulation. If you can see the tops of your ceiling joists, you probably need more insulation.
• Vacuum your refrigerator coils. Not the most exciting job, but it helps your fridge run easier and use less energy.
• Check your dryer vent. If your clothes are taking longer to dry, or it just seems like it’s working harder than it used to, it’s worth cleaning out.

You don’t have to do all of this in one weekend. Even just picking one or two and working them into your normal routine makes a difference over time.

Fall is coming, and the calendar shows winter isn’t far behind us. A few small habits now can make life a little easier and your home a little more efficient when the colder weather settles in. Either way, winter always seems to show up faster than we think it will… just like school starting back up every year.