A Special Advertising Section by The Bangor Daily News | September 9, 2022 HOME 6 THINGS TO GET DONE AROUND THE HOUSE BEFORE WINTER COMES TIPS FOR MAKING YOUR LIVING SPACE COZIER FOR FALL FALL 2022 Improvement ADOBE STOCK PHOTO
2. Throw Pillows
Twinkle lights aren’t just for the holidays. Strands of lights are inexpensive and look great along your fireplace, going up your stair railing, in a china cabinet or draped along your headboard. There are twinkle lights available for every season and they come in so many different shapes and sizes you are sure to find something that fits your style.
ADOBE STOCK PHOTO
1. Cozy Blankets
BY KATIE SMITH
5 tips for making your living space cozier for fall
Cooler days and nights mean we stay inside more and want our space to be cozy and inviting. It doesn’t have to take a lot of time or money to give your home a fall glow-up that will make you want to spend lazy Sundays on the sofa with a great book.
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In one afternoon you can transform your living space into a sanctuary that will get you ready for the cozy seasons ahead. Here are five things anyone can do to get their home ready for fall in no time at all.
There are so many delicious scents to choose from in the fall. Candles also have a way of making you feel at home and relaxed. You can put them in a glass hurricane, line them up on your fireplace mantle or use them as a simple centerpiece on your dining room table. Whether you are looking to do a huge statement on your dining table or just want a few tealights scattered around, it’s really easy to achieve the look you are going for since there are so many candle varieties available. If scents bother you or you have safety concerns with little ones around, there are lots of battery-operated candles to choose from. They look real and will add just as much ambiance – not to mention last a lot longer than a traditional candle.
3. Candles
5. Twinkle Lights
Pumpkins and gourds don’t have to stay their natural color either. Consider painting them to go with your decor, or in silvers and golds for a dramatic look.
One of the easiest ways to spruce up your home is by changing out your pillows. If you already have pillows you love, consider getting or making some new covers. Pillows are great for living room furniture and bedrooms, and they can cozy up your dining room chairs too. Oversized floor pillows are a great way to add extra seating in your home if you are entertaining or having a family movie night.
4. Bring the Outdoors In Going for a walk and collecting bittersweet, pinecones, birch branches and acorns is all you need to do to make your home more fall-like. You can make a wreath with all of your treasures, place the birch logs in a rustic basket, or place acorns in a pretty bowl. For a festive table setting, lay the bittersweet vines along the center of your table, scatter some acorns and light some tealight candles.
Throw blankets are a great accessory and can warm up any space. Add them to your sofa or favorite chair or drape them along the bottom of a bed to make your home appealing. Anything from a chunky knit to a soft cashmere will add instant cozy vibes. You can keep it neutral with creams, browns and blacks. Or it can be a great time to add some color. A nice orange throw will coordinate with pumpkins and forest green, bringing vibrant colors you may be missing from the warmer months.
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Traditionally, energy use was minimized by the design and setting of a home related to the environment it was built in. Trees were used to buffer cold winds, or to shade the heat of the summer sun. With the advent of powerful heating and cooling systems in the 1950s and 60s, and relatively inexpensive energy, home design strayed from the concerns about energy efficiency. The energy crisis of the 1970s created a new generation of manufacturing and construction methods that focused once again on a home’s energy needs.
Today, a new standard of energy efficiency is required. The Renewal by Andersen window replacement process helps meet these new standards with product technology and installation methods that will help solve our environmental and energy challenges while withstanding the test of time.
Renewal by Andersen focuses on the big pictures – the whole-window performance. We pay particular attention to the window frame and glass – critical components for energy efficiency. We also place enormous significance on complete, professional installation, and warrant it in writing – because a good window can only perform well if it is installed correctly.
Energy efficient windows
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BY RENEWAL BY ANDERSEN
Windows have played an important role in home design for centuries. Historically, window development focused on the right balance between the benefits of natural light and ventilation and the disadvantages of cold drafts, water leakage and the extensive maintenance of early window designs.
• Framing material • Glass • Professional installation When you choose Renewal by Anderse window replacement, you will help improve comfort with low- maintenance, energy efficient windows. For schedule your free inhome consultation and learn even more about our energy-efficient windows, contact us at 855-875-5082 or visit rbagreatermaine.com
Renewal by Andersen windows will help you save money on your energy bills. Many companies tout specific features of their window components when discussing energy efficiency.
While individual components contribute to energy efficiency, it's whole-window performance that’s most important.
At Renewal by Andersen, we believe our outstanding whole-window performance is the result of:
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BY KATIE SMITH
4. Drain all outside faucets, showers and sprinklers
Make sure to wait until all the leaves have fallen, then clean your gutters or hire someone to do it. When gutters get clogged up with leaves they won’t work properly and will send all the rainwater down your home which causes lots of wear and tear on your exterior and foundation, and could lead to water settling in your basement.
6. Check your snowblower and winterize your lawn mower
Owning your own home can be equally rewarding and daunting. It takes a lot of work to make sure everything is working properly, there are no leaks where precious heat can be lost and of course, we want our homes to look their best.
6 things to get done
around the house before winter comes
Winterize your lawn mower by adding some fuel stabilizer since the gas can go bad during the winter and gunk up your mower.
Early fall is a great time to prep your home since it’s still very comfortable outside, and a great way to enjoy every last bit of sunshine you can. Not to mention if you are like me, you simply have more energy and motivation to get it done. I’ve realized after owning a home for almost 25 years there are some things you can do in preparation for winter (before the crazy weather hits) that will make your life a lot easier.
3. Check out all exterior wood
Since getting your checklist done or hiring someone to help can be overwhelming, I’ve found that after Labor Day I try to tackle one thing a week. That way, by the time the snow and cold weather come, I feel prepared.
You don’t want to be stuck without a snowblower during a storm. Make sure to check your snowblower and turn it on before the snow falls so that if it’s not working, you can get it fixed before you need it.
2. Clean out the gutters
5. Trim back trees Take a walk outside and make sure all your trees are healthy. If you see any rotten trees make sure they get cut down since they can easily fall on your home or a neighbor’s home during a winter storm. Trim back any branches that are touching your home since they can get weighed down with snow and ice and do some damage.
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If you know how to check your system and change your filters yourself, that’s great. Make sure to do that once a year to catch any small problems before they turn into big ones. You can also call a reputable HVAC contractor and have them come to your house to give your system a cleaning and check to make sure everything will work when the temperatures drop. It’s much better to catch it before you need the heat than it is on a blustery winter day.
1. Check your heating and cooling systems
Since outside spigots aren’t protected Maine winters will freeze them up in no time, which can cause damage to interior water lines as well. The best thing to do is to drain the lines by shutting off the water valve to the outside spigot and draining existing water out. Make sure to leave them off until spring.
If you have wood around your doors and windows check to make sure it’s in good shape. If you have any cracks in the caulk, make sure to replace it as this can lead to rotting wood. If the paint is chipping, scrape the old paint away and apply fresh. Going around and checking all wood trim will protect it and keep you from having to replace rotting wood. If you have a wood deck, check to see if it needs to be sealed. Fall is a great time to do this because the summer heat has left and you will be a lot more comfortable. To see if your wood deck or porch needs to be sealed, splash some water on it. If it beads up you are all set. If you see the wood absorb into the wood, it’s time to seal it.
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