The days are shorter, the temps are colder, and nothing sounds better than curling up with your favorite blanket, a hot cup of cocoa, and a good book to hibernate with until spring has sprung once again. Before you settle yourself in for the season, we’re here to share some our favorite tips to help you get your home winter weather ready. If you tackle these winter maintenance projects now, there’s a good chance you won’t have to brave the bitter elements later on with potentially costly repairs.

Here are five of our winter maintenance musts for homeowners:

1. Assess Your Doors and Windows

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, heat lost through windows and doors can account for up to 30 percent of home energy use. That’s why our first winter maintenance must is to make sure that there are no cracks, gaps, or spaces where you can feel air coming through your window sills or door frames. If you do feel air, make sure to seal the leak with caulking or weather stripping as needed. If you’ve noticed a significant increase in your energy use, call a professional who can provide additional insights into areas where you may be losing heat and recommend fixes. It’s no secret that energy bills tend to skyrocket during the colder months. This is one of the easiest ways to save and keep your house from getting cold.

2. Perform Furnace Maintenance

Have you ever noticed that when you first turn your furnace on after it’s sat dormant for a season it seems a bit sluggish? Maybe even has a distinct scent? Our next winter maintenance must is to have your furnace cleaned and tuned up by a professional at least once a year. Doing this will not only help expand the life of the furnace and ensure it’s running at its peak productivity, but it will also will help keep the air filtering through it cleaner, helping your family stay healthier during the colder months. Furnaces that are not cleaned at least once a year can wear out more quickly and can actually stop working altogether.

3. Have Your Fireplace Cleaned

Do you use a wood burning or gas fireplace in the winter? Did you know that the soot and creosote that builds up in the chimney from regular use can actually pose a fire risk? That’s why our next winter maintenance must is to hire a chimney sweep. They’ll clean the chimney and inspect the entire fuel venting system for warped metal on the damper, cracked or collapsed flue tiles, cracks in the exterior masonry and other signs of fire damage. You’ll want to do this before it gets too cold so you can make sure it will be functioning throughout the winter. This is also a good time to change the batteries in your smoke detector.

4. Flush Your Water Heater

Has your water been feeling a little gritty? Your water heater may be the culprit. Did you know you can clean your water heater just by draining it? Go ahead and allow all of the water in the tank to come out. Doing this will get rid of any buildup that has settled in your water heater due to sediment and will help prevent it from building up during the winter. This important chore is easy to ignore because it’s out of sight, but it should be done at least once a year, especially if you live in a hard-water area. Built-up sediment reduces the heating efficiency of your water heater and costs you money.

5. Winterize, Drain and Protect Your Pipes

Whenever frigid temps hit the forecast, we are often told to leave a faucet on with a small drip of water to help prevent pipes from freezing. Data from the Insurance Information Institute shows that almost 30 percent of homeowners’ insurance claims are related to water damage and freezing. If you want to avoid becoming a part of this statistic, make sure to drain outdoor water spigots and protect your water pipes this winter. You can do this by purchasing Styrofoam covers that attach over outdoor spigots to keep them from freezing or by utilizing your hose bib shut-off valve to completely turn off water access and provide an extra layer of protection against the elements as temperatures drop.

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