Waking Up to a Cold Breeze From That Open Window?

(ARA) - The summer flowers are turning brown. The kids are moping around the house. Weekend plans are becoming centered around soccer games instead of the beach or pool. You're feeling just a little depressed. Yup, fall is around the corner -- and when fall arrives, it's time to think about getting ready for winter.

Cheer up. It is easy to winterize your home if you divide the work into three categories.

First, concentrate on Outside Maintenance such as bringing in your outside furniture, grills, toys and other recreational items. Also bring in plants, clear the garden hoses of water and turn your faucets off for the winter. Next trim tree limbs and vegetation away from your roof and clean debris out of the gutters. Lastly, make sure your doors and windows are properly sealed. Replace weather stripping and missing or loose caulking.

Second, move to the Inside Maintenance of the house. Have your furnace serviced and check heating fuel supplies. Clean and check your fireplace or wood stove and have the chimney cleaned, as well. This is a good time to check the plumbing fixtures in your home for any indication of leaks. Actually, it's a good time to check for signs of water where it shouldn't be all around the house. Check the attic for traces of leaks coming from the roof and the basement for signs of water seeping in through the foundation.

Take inventory of your family's summer clothes and shoes. Are some of them worn out or the wrong size for next year? Be tough on yourself. If the clothes haven't been worn this summer, they will never be worn next year, so throw out the damaged clothes and give away the good ones. Box up the rest of your summer clothes and put cedar chips in the boxes to protect from moths. Also box up those summer sandals and light shoes. Store everything in a dry place out of the way of frequent foot traffic. Now it's time to bring out the winter clothes you put away last spring. While you're at it, this is a good time to clean and organize your closets.

Lastly, think about Improvements for your home to make life more pleasant this winter. Make a few changes in your décor by changing the decorative pillows on the sofa to some that are a deeper, jewel tone or made of heavier fabric. Bring out the heavier, warmer bedspreads as well. Add lots of scented candles around the house, and actually light them! Put herbal candles in the dining room and living room. Burn a spicy candle in the kitchen and use floral scented ones in the bathrooms. These little touches make everyone feel cozy and warm.

Installing a towel radiator in your bathroom is a great way to add affordable luxury while being practical at the same time. Nothing could be more comforting than getting out of the bath on a cold winter morning and wrapping yourself in a warm, fluffy towel. With Zehnder towel radiators, you don't have to crank up your thermostat and heat the entire house to get just that comfort. And best of all, it's ready even before you crawl out from under the covers.

"With the 7-day programmable controller, you can program the radiator to run just when you want the bathroom to be toasty warm," says Paula Bush of Zehnder America. "No need to spend money on heating the bathroom when no one is using it." The best part is they fit anywhere that you would put up your normal towel bar. Now isn't that practical?

Fall is the perfect time to prepare your home for the winter months that lie ahead. Outside and inside maintenance will ensure that it is in good shape and will give you peace of mind throughout the winter. Small changes and improvements inside will make the long winter more comfortable and pleasant until it's time for you to get those grills and garden hoses out again next spring.

For more information on Zehnder's towel radiators please call (888) 778-6701 or see them online at www.zehnderamerica.com.

Courtesy of ARA Content