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(KNSI) — Leaves are changing, the weather is cooling, and it’s time to start thinking about buttoning up the house.

Sean Lutgen, owner of Lutgen Companies, said one of the most important things to do is clean up outside.

In addition to clearing away dirt and debris that settles along the foundation, he says getting the gutters clear of clutter can alleviate water damage. Another important piece to check is the downspouts. “That’s the spout that comes down on the house from the gutter that lets all the water shed off the roof. You want to have the kickers or the extensions at the bottom. You want to make sure that they’re on, fastened, and flipped down. Sometimes, all summer long, mowing grass, tripping over them, they get thrown in the weeds, taken off, or put in the garage. It’s just a good time of year to get them on.”

Clogged gutters are also an issue come winter. As the snow melts, the water can’t properly flow off the roof and can refreeze, causing ice dams. Over time, the leaves can also become like a compost pile and cause the shingles to rot.

This time of year, he says, mice are looking for a place to cozy up and often do it near a foundation’s inside corner where debris piles made of leaves and grass collect. It gives perfect cover to critters.

Lutgen also warns about making sure windows are shut and latched properly. Properly latching windows, he says, “helps hold the window, make it square, make it operate properly.” Lutgen explains his experts especially see it with crank out windows. “People just crank them in tight, and they walk away and don’t think about it. But by not latching it, the window is going to leak a lot of air, create more moisture issues on the glass and potentially just more problems.”

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