With the lazy days of summer over and winter quickly approaching, autumn has always been a season of preparation in my mind. It’s a time to settle into regular routines and get ready for the winter months ahead. From filling the freezer with garden vegetables to making minor repairs to my house, there’s no shortage of work when the leaves start to fall!

Of course, one of my top tasks for fall is making sure that my house is safe and secure and this month I’ll be sharing my top three safety tips for fall as part of the Master Lock Live Secure Safety Squad! Here’s how I make sure that my family is safe in the coming months:

Turn Up the Heat

The furnace is going to need to be fired up before long, so fall is the perfect time to do some maintenance and ensure that you’ll be toasty warm this winter. Basic furnace maintenance is something that often takes only a few minutes. Start by ensuring that the furnace filter is clean and in good repair. You may also want to clean the air ducts to ensure good air flow and quality. While this is a job that requires a professional for a thorough cleaning, you can actually do quite a good job yourself with nothing more than a vacuum cleaner, a screwdriver and a cleaning rag. And if your furnace is due for a full servicing, fall is a great time to get that done to ensure that your family will be warm and cosy in the coming months. [Read more…]