Get your home ready for fall but don't rush

As a girl, whenever I was impatiently looking forward to a special day, such as the end of school, the start of vacation or my birthday, my mom would always say, “Don’t wish your life away.”

Decades later, I’ve finally figured out what she meant. She wasn’t trying to dampen my excitement; rather, she was reminding me to not rush through life, to stay in the now and to savor the season because the next one would come soon enough.

So when I hear my friends pine for fall weather — and we live in Florida so who can blame them — I think of mom’s wise words and remind myself that the next season will be here soon enough.

Take a beat.

The older I get, the more wistful I feel when a season ends. This year, I am clinging a little longer to summer, to the linen dresses and sunhats, the tall ice teas and ripe stone fruits, the long, sun-filled days, and the breeze through the screen of an open door.

Soon enough, we’ll have a fire in the firepit, warm jackets hanging on hooks by the door, leaves crunching underfoot, mounds of pumpkins and gourds, baskets of apples, and an extra blanket on the bed.

And while I’m not in a rush, I also know the changes signal that it’s time to get ready for fall, to prepare the house for a colder season in ways practical and pretty. I liken these two categories of changes to vegetables and dessert. In the vegetable section are unfun chores that home experts recommend we do this time of year for the soundness of our homes.

These should-do chores go along with adulting and make you feel virtuous. In the dessert category are the seasonal decor moves that make your home look, feel and smell like fall.

Vegetables first: To head off weather-related problems, experts from Neighborly, a large home services company, and risk control professionals from Travelers suggest making the following home maintenance projects part of your fall routine:

• Clean rain gutters. Keeping gutters and downspouts free of leaves and debris is important for your home’s health. Left untended, leaves can prevent rain and snowmelt from draining and can cause water to seep under shingles, compromising your roof and walls.

• Rake the leaves. Similarly, a buildup of leaves on the lawn can smother it. Keep leaves raked. A little fall fertilizer can help lawns by encouraging root growth during months when lawns are less lush.

• Check your heating system. Before you switch the thermostat from cool to warm, test the heating system to be sure it works. If the system is due for maintenance, have it serviced. Once weather turns cool, program the thermostat to keep the house to a consistent energy-efficient temperature.

• Kill the chill. To head off drafts at the source, seal leaks. Replace worn weatherstripping around doors, and caulk cracks or gaps by windows. A well-insulated home will be more comfortable and will keep utility bills down.

• Change air filters. Although easy to ignore, air filters in our homes have the important job of purifying the air we breathe by catching dust, mold, dander, and other circulating particles. They can’t do that if they’re filthy and clogged. The beginning of a new season is a good time to replace them.

• Clear water bibs. If you live in a climate that freezes, prevent water in outside faucets from freezing and bursting pipes by draining and disconnecting garden hoses, draining the water in the faucet, and removing the water from the interior valve to the spigot. If you don’t know how to do this, call a plumber. In areas that don’t have prolonged deep freezes, consider installing an insulated cover (available at most home goods stores) over the exterior spigot.

Then dessert. Once you’ve done the responsible adult-type tasks, treat yourself to a hearty serving of seasonal fall decor. Here are some changes I’ll be making at my house when the time is right:

• Toss fall-colored throw blankets over chairs and sofas indoors and out.

• Add seasonal scents with gingerbread, cinnamon or pumpkin-spice candles.

• Fill a basket or wood tray with gourds and place them on the hearth or coffee table.

• Place pots of mums on the porch alongside some pumpkins.

• Hang a fall wreath on the front door.

• Cut boughs and branches, with or without leaves, from outdoor trees, and place them in vases instead of flowers.

• Heat cider on the stove just for the smell.

• Light a fire, make s’mores, cuddle up and savor the season.

Marni Jameson is the author of seven home improvement books. Reach her at marnijameson.com.