How to Cozy Up Your Home Without Cranking Up the Heat

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Already feeling a chill in your home, but not ready to crank up the heat? Never fear. Houselogic has great tips on how to make your home feel warm and cozy, without increasing your gas bill.

1. Dust your light fixtures. Clean bulbs make your home seem brighter and warmer, but won't hurt your electric bill.

2. Check for leaks. Air can leak out through cracks around windows, doors, wall outlets, and electrical boxes.

3. Warm up with the fireplace of the future: Gel fireplace inserts can burn for up to three hours and are completely smoke and allergen-free, according to Houselogic.

4. Indoor plants can help brighten up your home, while decreasing dust. Try either the golden pothos or some gerbera daisies.

5. Let in the light by cleaning your window panes! More natural light can help cure the blues brought on by shorter days and colder temperatures.

6. After you've cleaned your window panes, take out the screens. Dirty screens make your home feel darker and screenless windows have great curb appeal!

Five Maintenance Jobs You Need to Do This Fall

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Some home improvement jobs are just too much for the summertime. Heavy lifting in heavy humidity isn't ideal and some projects just cannot get accomplished until it cools off. Check out Houselogic's top five maintenance jobs for cooler weather.

1. Improve attic insulation
Not only will working conditions be much more tolerable in cooler weather, but you'll be able to tell
what areas need insulation if there's a draft.

2. Seal the cracks
Another place you lose money through leaks is around windows and doors. With the colder weather
coming, you're going to want to keep warm air in and cool air out. Examine all windows, doors, and
siding and fill in leaks with waterproof silicone caulk.

3. Clean the gutters
Moisture can wreak havoc on a home's condition, so make sure your gutters are clear and your
downspouts are drawing water away from your foundation. Autumn's falling leaves can clog gutters
easily and it's important your gutters are clear before winter comes.

4. Plant a tree
Fall is a great time to plant a tree, advises Houselogic, since the tree's dormant state is easier on the root system. Check out our list of trees with the most beautiful fall colors before making your decision.

5. Clean your garage
Wouldn't it be nice to drive your car straight into your garage once winter rolls around? Most of us
don't have that luxury due to messy garages. Houselogic recommends taking a weekend this fall to sort through and organize everything in your garage and to get rid of the stuff you don't need. It's also a great opportunity to make sure all your snow equipment (snow blowers, shovels, etc.) is in good
working order before the first heavy snowfall.

5 Maintenance Jobs You Need to Do This Fall

via MBdevelopment.com

Some home improvement jobs are just too much for the summertime. Heavy lifting in heavy humidity isn't ideal and some projects just cannot get accomplished until it cools off. Check out Houselogic's top five maintenance jobs for cooler weather.
 
1. Improve attic insulation
Not only will working conditions be much more tolerable in cooler weather, but you'll be able to tell
what areas need insulation if there's a draft.

2. Seal the cracks
Another place you lose money through leaks is around windows and doors. With the colder weather
coming, you're going to want to keep warm air in and cool air out. Examine all windows, doors, and
siding and fill in leaks with waterproof silicone caulk.

3. Clean the gutters
Moisture can wreak havoc on a home's condition, so make sure your gutters are clear and your
downspouts are drawing water away from your foundation. Autumn's falling leaves can clog gutters
easily and it's important your gutters are clear before winter comes.
 
4. Plant a tree
Fall is a great time to plant a tree, advises Houselogic, since the tree's dormant state is easier on the root system. Check out our list of trees with the most beautiful fall colors before making your decision.

5. Clean your garage
Wouldn't it be nice to drive your car straight into your garage once winter rolls around? Most of us
don't have that luxury due to messy garages. Houselogic recommends taking a weekend this fall to sort through and organize everything in your garage and to get rid of the stuff you don't need. It's also a great opportunity to make sure all your snow equipment (snow blowers, shovels, etc.) is in good
working order before the first heavy snowfall.

9 trees with the best fall colors

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Fall has come to Columbus, bringing shorter days, cooler temperatures, and brighter landscapes. For those of us lucky enough to watch their transformation up close, the dazzling, changing colors of the trees are a true delight.

Green with envy over your neighbor's fall foliage? Here are HouseLogic's list of trees with the best fall colors to turn your yard into an autumnal wonderland.

1. Japanese Maple

With its maroon-red leaves, a Japanese Maple is a beautiful tree that attracts songbirds and squirrels. Houselogic recommends planting it in the shade, so its leaves don't burn in the summer heat.

2. Vine Maple

Houselogic cites this tree's curb appeal provided by its unique, twisting branches. The Vine Maple provides all three classic fall colors (yellow, orange, red) in its leaves, making it a perfect autumn addition.

3. Viburnum

The Viburnum is technically a shrub, but that doesn't make its fall appearance any less stunning. Its leaves turn shades of red and purple, while its berries add lovely blue accents.

4. Paper birch

The crisp contrast of this tree's white trunk and bright yellow leaves signal that fall has arrived! Houselogic also recommends tapping the tree for its sap to make syrup, vinegar, and beer.

5. Sugar maple

Like the Vine Maple, this tree boasts hues of red and orange, but the Sugar Maple's leaves reach another level of fall time perfection: gold. Another fun fact: the Sugar Maple has a very long lifespan, with some living up to 500 years!

6. Smoketree

Houselogic recommends using this shrub as an accent tree. The Smoketree is especially dynamic, with red-purple leaves in fall, and wispy, pink blossoms in spring

7. Katsura Tree

This tree does require some extra TLC, but there's a big payoff. The Katsura tree has a spread of up to 60 feet and its fallen leaves smell like cinnamon.

8. Sourwood

The Sourwood tree makes the list for its scarlet red leaves and silver seed capsules (sounds like Buckeye colors to us!). The capsules will stick around through the winter and bees will frequent Sourwood trees in the spring and summer to produce sourwood honey!

9. Scarlet Oak

Like its name implies, the Scarlet Oak's leaves turn bright red in the fall. According to Houselogic, larger songbirds and wild turkeys love the Scarlet Oak!

All About Fireplaces

With the first snow behind us, it's a good time to start thinking about preparing your fireplace for the winter. At least half of all American households have at least one fireplace. However, they are not to be taken for granted--they can be dangerous if improperly maintained. The National Fire Protection Association cites at least 12,000 U.S. deaths from residential fires each year. Creosote--a highly flammable byproduct of combustion that builds up in chimneys of wood-burning fireplaces, is often responsible.

Cleaning your wood-burning fireplace: It's all about the chimney. The Chimney Sweep Institute of America (CSIA) advises annual inspections by a certified chimney sweep. This way, homeowners can identify potential problems earlier, saving them the costly and timely maintenance fees that would result should the problem go unnoticed. Click here to find a CSIA approved certified professional. After cleaning, ensure that wood is adequately dried and prepared. When you start a fire, don't forget to open the chimney flue, which will enable smoke to exit.

Cleaning your gas fireplace: check burning equipment (i.e, logs) to search for damange. Remove the gas log inserts in order to vacuum or dust them with a dry rag. Use a window cleaner to wipe both sides of the glass, and finish by wiping the exterior using a wet cloth. When all is said and done, sit back and enjoy your evening!

Fall Cleaning

Sometimes, Spring cleaning isn't enough. While you've been gone on vacation, dust and cobwebs have accumulated in your home. The answer? Fall cleaning.

Why? Fall cleaning often reduces the stress of spring cleaning. Cleaning outdoor furniture and grills before they are put away for the winter means that you no longer have to clean these items in the spring. Experts say that fall cleaning is actually just as important as spring cleaning, as it's crucial for the general upkeep of a home. 

Where to start: take inventory of your cleaning supplies and where they can be found. Buy any products you know you will need, but do not have. 

What to do: power-wash windows, clean gutters, refresh your dishwasher with baking soda, clean (or replace) your humidifier(s), steam clean carpets, and clean your oven, refrigerator, and kitchen cabinets. 

Think this list is lengthy? It's only a small sample! For a more complete list of recommended fall cleaning activities, click here.  Below is a brief video on how you can inexpensively clean your oven without using harsh chemicals.