Honestly, it seems like Autumn’s a strange season, right? Well, the first half of it has you throwing on a sweater in the morning, then regretting it by lunchtime when the sun decides it’s gonna get a little hotter (basically summer temperatures). It’s like two seasons in one day if you think about it.
But the second half of the season, well, you’re probably trying to figure out whether it’s going to start raining, or if it's about to snow instead. But overall, your house feels like that same rollercoaster, which is why this in-between time is the perfect moment to get your home set up for the switch from summer cool to winter cozy. As you know, you want to keep your home safe, but you need to make it comfortable too (well, that’s a given).
But of course, with this weird transition, it needs to be done the right way..
Start with the Thermostat
Well, this is the season when your thermostat feels just as confused as you do. Well, to be specific, whether or not you should even turn on the AC. Because again, the mornings are chilly, afternoons are warm, and nights swing back to cold again. So, instead of constantly fiddling with it, set up a schedule. If you have a smart thermostat, you might not need to think much about it, honestly.
So, just let the house cool off a bit before the afternoon warmth kicks in, then bring in gentle heat for mornings and late nights. But those small tweaks work better than big swings, oh, and it saves you from chasing the “perfect” number all day long.
Test the Heat While it’s Still Mild
Yes, it’s always good to save money and wait until the first cold snap, but that’s probably too late, too. No, really, don’t wait until the first freezing night to switch the heat on. Instead, just give your system a test run while it’s still just a little cool outside.
Meaning, you should turn it on, listen for odd noises, and make sure every room is actually warming up. If something feels off, now’s the time to look into an HVAC company to help you out and tune it. The whole point of doing this is to make sure that everything works just fine before it’s too late.
Fix the Drafts Already
No one likes a draft, and yeah, that’s pretty obvious here. So, it’s going to be a good idea to do a quick lap in the house where some cold air is coming in. Usually, it’s smart to do this in the morning while it’s still cold (and your house is still a bit warm), so you can easily tell what the temperature difference is. Usually, it’s not a lot of work either, just weatherstripping, a doorsnake, just little things like that.
Use Fans, Sunlight, and Curtains
You might actually be surprised to hear that ceiling fans aren’t just for summer. You can actually flip them so they push air up instead of down, and they’ll circulate warm air without chilling you. It’s technically “free heat” if you want to think of it that way. But you should also take advantage of sunlight, too. Open the curtains on sunny afternoons and let the house soak it in, then close them at night to keep the warmth inside. Again, it’s another “free” heat method.
Keep Humidity in Check
Oh yeah, autumn’s weird here too. So, early on, it can still feel muggy, then the air dries out the second the heat starts running. If the air’s too dry, everything feels colder, and your skin and sinuses don’t thank you either. Honestly, just get a humidifier (or a dehumidifier) and that usually does the trick.
