As the kids head back to school, it’s time to take a look at some of those chores you may have neglected through the summer — and some that will help you prepare for winter weather.

Turn on your heating system to make sure it’s working. It’s a lot easier to get it fixed now, rather than when the heating and air conditioning companies are swamped with calls on the first cold day. It’s a good idea to have a checkup of your system at least once a year.

Have you been neglecting those furnace filters? Clogged filters mean that your heating and cooling system has to work harder to circulate air. Check the filter about once a month. If you’re troubled with dust or allergies, you might consider one of the pleated electrostatic filters that you can install yourself in place of the less expensive models. Consumer Reports magazine found that these filters, including those made by 3M, Purolator and American Air Filter, significantly reduced the amount of dust in the air.

Other appliances also need regular maintenance to operate at top efficiency. Check the owner’s manual for each appliance for recommendations for regular maintenance. If you can’t locate the owner’s manual, many manufacturers now have copies of manuals on their Web sites.

Clean the vents and coils on your refrigerator about twice a year. A dust coating makes the refrigerator work harder and can shorten its life. You can use an inexpensive condenser coil brush, found at appliance dealers and home improvement and hardware stores. The coils are usually behind the kickplate grill at the bottom of the unit in the front. On older models, you may find them on the back, partly covered by cardboard. If the coils are in the back, be sure nothing can fall behind the refrigerator that might block air to the coils. Some frost-free models have a plastic drain pan underneath them. If you can remove this pan, take it out and clean it with warm water.

You can also test the refrigerator door gasket to make sure it’s sealing tightly. A leaky gasket wastes energy and shortens the compressor’s life. Close the refrigerator door on a piece of paper (a dollar bill is traditional) at several places along the door and pull lightly. If the paper comes out easily, replace the gasket.

Check the fill hoses on your washing machine to see if they’re still flexible and don’t show any signs of cracks, blisters, leaks, or corrosion on the fittings. These hoses don't last forever, and having one fail can be an unpleasant surprise.

Replacement hoses made of braided stainless steel, although more expensive, last much longer. Also, drain your water heater at least once a year to remove the sediment from the bottom of the tank. Again, be sure to read the manufacturer’s recommendations first.

There are also some outdoor tasks for the fall. According to the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Cooperative Extension Service, August is a good month to fertilize zoysia lawns, and September’s the month for turf-type fescue and bermuda lawns. September is also the time to apply a pre-emergent weed killer to help prevent winter weeds such as chickweed. September through November is the best time to seed a new fescue lawn or overseed an existing lawn.

Take a look at the plants in your yard. Any that have survived the weather of the last several years are proven survivors. Fall is a great time to replace any that didn't make it through the summer and to add trees, shrubs, and hardy perennials to your landscaping. Getting established over the winter will give the plants a much better chance of surviving a hot, dry summer.