Checklist:
Fall Preventative Home Maintenance

Before the weather grows colder it's important to prepare for the winter months to prevent costly damage. Below are the fall preventative home maintenance steps that every homeowner should follow. If you don't have the time or inclination to tackle this list on your own, be sure to contact your local contractors to schedule the work soon.

Gutters and Downspouts

• Clean gutters and downspouts frequently throughout fall to prevent buildup of leaves and other debris. Neglected gutters can lead to wood rot problems and pest infestations, not to mention ruined gutters.
• Be sure water is not coming down behind gutters and that all support brackets are securely in place.
• Ensure that water drains properly and doesn't pool. Pooling can cause damage to foundations, driveways, and walkways.

Windows and Doors

• Change summer screens to cool weather storm windows and doors.
• Inspect and repair any loose or damaged window or door frames.
• Install weather-stripping or caulking around windows and doors to prevent drafts and to lower heating bills.

Heating Systems

• Replace the filter in your furnace. Consider having a heating professional check your heating system to ensure optimal performance and uncover minor problems before they turn into costly major repairs.
• Clean your ducts to improve your heating system's efficiency as well as to reduce household dust and to provide relief to those with respiratory problems.

Plumbing

• To prevent pipes freezing and bursting, ensure that the pipes are well insulated.
• Know how to locate and turn off the water shut-off valve in case pipes do freeze.

Chimney and Fireplace

• Call a professional in to inspect and clean your chimney. Fireplaces that are regularly used during the season should have an annual cleaning to prevent dangerous chimney fires.
• Test your fireplace flue for a tight seal when closed.

Attic Ventilation

• Be sure attic insulation doesn't cover vents in the eaves to prevent winter ice dams on the roof.
• Be sure ridge vents and vents at eaves are free of plants and debris.
• Check bird and rodent screens for attic vents to prevent any unwanted guests.

Landscaping

• Although grass appears to stop growing in the fall, the roots are actually growing deeper to prepare for winter. Now is the best time to fertilize and reseed your lawn.
• Prune your trees and shrubs after the leaves turn to encourage healthy growth.
• Trim any tree limbs that are dangerously close to power lines or the roof of your house. Heavy snow and ice can cause damage in the winter.

Halloween Safety Tips
For The Whole Family

Parents and kids alike can get so caught up in the fun of Halloween that they might forget some simple safety ideas. Here are a few common sense tips that can help families have a fun and safe Halloween.

• If you can't personally take your kids trick or treating, know the route they'll be taking or find another adult to accompany them.
  
  
• Make sure you set a time for them to be home and stress how important it is.
  
  
• Explain the difference between tricks and vandalism. Throwing eggs at a house may seem like fun but they need to know that if they are caught vandalizing, there will be consequences.
  
  
• Help your child pick out or make a costume that will be safe…it should be fireproof and the eye holes should be large enough for unobstructed vision.
  
  
• If you set jack-o-lanterns on your porch with candles in them, make sure that they are far enough out of the way so that kids' costumes won't accidentally catch on fire.
  
  
• Treating your kids to a fun Halloween dinner will make them less likely to eat the candy they collect before you have a chance to check it for them.
  
  
• Teaching your kids basic everyday safety such as not getting into cars or talking to strangers, watching both ways before crossing streets, etc., will help make them safer when they are out trick or treating.  
  
  

Learning from Our Mistakes

According to legend, it took Thomas Edison 1,000 tries to invent the light bulb. In other words, he failed a whopping 999 times before he reached success. (Not surprising, considering that he was working on his invention in the dark!)

Soon after Edison revealed his earth-shattering invention, a French reporter asked, "Mr. Edison, how did it feel to fail 999 times?" As the story goes, Thomas Edison just smiled and replied, "Young man, I have not failed 999 times. I have simply found 999 ways how not to create a light bulb."

In other words, Thomas Edison learned from his mistakes—and he refused to be discouraged by those 999 botched experiments. Most mortals would have given up much sooner. Yet each failure taught Edison something important that allowed him to go back and tweak the process or switch out the components until he finally got it right.