6 Tasks That Every Smart Homeowner Does in October

The temps are starting to drop; the smell of wood smoke is in the air.

Temps are more chilly than warm. Thats when veteran homeowners know its time to do these six things if they want to avoid grief or overspending:

#1 Buy Appliances

Whisper to them. Do a rain dance. Whatever it takes to get your old appliances to wait until fall to go on the fritz. Manufacturers bring out their latest models during the fall, and store owners offer big sales on appliances they want to move out -- like last years most popular dishwasher. So September, October, and November are great months to buy.

But October is right in the middle -- when theres still plenty of selection, and retailers might be more willing to haggle.

Refrigerators are the exception because new models dont come out until spring.

#2 Switch the Direction of Ceiling Fans

Most have a switch to allow the ceiling fan blades to rotate either clockwise or counterclockwise -- one way pushes air down to create a nice breeze and the other sucks air up, helping to distribute the heat. Think counterclockwise when its warm and clockwise when its cool.

#3 Clean Windows

Daylight is about to dwindle so why not get as much of it as you can? Clean off all the bugs, dust, and grime from your windows while the weather is still warm enough to do so. For streak-free windows, combine 1/4-cup of white vinegar with 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of eco-friendly dish detergent and 2 cups of water.

If window cleaning isnt a DIY job at your home, schedule a professional window cleaner (who, unlike most of us, is able to do it even when temperatures plummet) before the end of the month. The closer it gets to the holidays, the busier they get. Bright sunshine on winters darkest days makes it totally worthwhile.

#4 Schedule a Heating Unit Checkup

To ensure your family will be able to feel their toes all winter, schedule early in the month for your heating unit to be serviced. As temperatures drop, service companies get busier.

Whether you hire your heating companys technician or a contractor to do it, theyll clean soot and corrosion from the combustion chamber, replace filters, and check the whole system for leaks, clogs, or damage. Nothing pairs with a pending blizzard better than the assurance that youll be weathering the storm with warm air piping through the vents and cocoa in hand.

#5 Get a Chimney Sweep to Inspect the Fireplace

Its time to dust off and sweep the chimney! Best to hire someone who knows wood-burning fireplaces. A professional chimney sweep will ensure your wood-burning fireplace burns more efficiently and will help prevent chimney fires and carbon monoxide poisoning during the winter. So yeah, its pretty important.

Tip: If you dont already have a chimney cap, this is also the time to add one to stop wild outdoor critters from crawling down it -- and (yikes!) into your house.

#6 Insulate Exposed Pipes

If youve ever dealt with a burst pipe, you know its a sad, wet disaster worth preventing. To avoid the stressful (not to mention, expensive) ordeal, prep your homes exposed pipes with foam or heat tape -- choosing which one will work best with your climate -- to keep those pipes toasty. Remember: The most at-risk pipes are often those in unheated areas such as an attics, crawl spaces, and garages, so secure those first.

Stacey Freed writes about homes, design, remodeling and construction for online and print national trade and consumer publications, including Better Homes & Gardens. Previously, she was a senior editor at Remodeling magazine.