The nights are getting longer, the days are getting shorter and that means only one thing…winter is coming! You’ve heard people talk about winterizing their home and you wonder if you should be doing it, too. The answer is yes.

Clean Your Gutters

• This task should be completed throughout the fall, especially towards the end of the season after most of the leaves have already fallen. Cleaning out the build up of leaves prevents snow and ice from forming dams in your gutter. If this happens, you run the risk of the weight pulling the gutters away from the house, damaging the gutters and leaving small holes for water to run inside the exterior wall of your home.

Shut Off the Exterior Spigot

• To help prevent water from freezing and bursting pipes, disconnect all hoses from outside spigots and if you have a shut-off valve, turn off the water that runs to the exterior spigots. You can take it a step further and use an insulated cover. These covers attach to the spigot and act as added insulation to protect your home.

Have Your Chimney Inspected

• Chimney fires are especially dangerous and can happen without warning. Creosote builds up along the chimney walls and can ignite overtime. It is very important that you have your chimney inspected and cleaned by a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep before you use it for the first time during the winter season.

Check and Replace Your Smoke Alarms

• With fireplaces, electric blankets, portable heaters and all things warm in the winter, it’s no wonder the peak season for house fires is December through March. The general rule for smoke alarms is to check it once a month and replace the batteries twice a year, around daylight savings time. If you haven’t done so already, change out the batteries and continually check its function throughout the winter months to help protect you and your family. Check your local regulations and state laws for more detailed information.