Preparing your home for winter may take some time, but many of the best measures are easy and free. Use these home maintenance tips to create a winter home maintenance checklist, so you can spend those cold days warm and cozy.

Have your chimney inspected

Before you use your fireplace or wood stove for heating, have the chimney or flue inspected and cleaned by a professional. This step can prevent chimney fires, which account for over 20,000 residential fires each year. A blocked chimney or flue can also increase your chances of carbon monoxide poisoning. Don’t forget fresh batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

If you have a nonworking or decorative fireplace, you could lose valuable heat through the open fireplace. Investing in a chimney balloon can prevent heat from escaping and cold winter air from coming in. Just make sure to remove it if you want to start a fire later on.

Have your furnace inspected

If you have a furnace, you should have it inspected each year, just like a chimney. If your furnace isn’t working properly, an early inspection can give you time to buy a new one before winter sets in. You should also consider having your air ducts cleaned or cleaning them yourself. Make sure you’re also changing your furnace filters regularly to keep your furnace working properly.

Prepare for snow and rain

Cold weather can do a number on your home, and you don’t want to have to clean and repair after winter. Instead, add some basic winter home maintenance to the checklist and complete it long before the cold takes hold.

• Insulate any exposed pipes in your attic and basement to prevent them from bursting.
• Make sure your sump pump works properly and there is nothing clogging the exterior drain. 
• Properly insulate walls and ceilings to prevent condensation, which can lead to mold or mildew.
• Keep your gutters free of debris, ice and snow, which can pull down your gutters and cause roof damage.
• Turn off outside water faucets and pipes, clear the lines of water and insulate them to prevent water leaks in your yard.

Your indoor plumbing can be at risk of freezing and cracking, too, if you have pipes running through chilly basements, exposed crawl spaces or accessible attics. An indoor leak can cause costly damage to your property. Prevent this scenario by wrapping those pipes with foam covers or towels.

Check for leaks and drafts

Leaks and drafts coming in through cracks in walls, doors and windows can prevent proper heating and increase energy bills. If your energy company doesn’t provide a home energy audit, perform one yourself. Here are a few ways to seal leaks and drafts:

• Put caulk, foam or weatherstripping around moving doors and windows.
• Use bubble wrap or a window insulator kit to seal up windows you won’t be using.
• Add a storm door to reduce heat loss at the main entrance.
• Install insulation in your attic to prevent ceiling heat loss.
• Replace poorly insulated doors made of wood with an Energy Star-rated door like steel or fiberglass.
• Cover mail slots and pet doors with insulation or heavy towels to keep warm air in and cold air out.
• Use blackout curtains on your windows, keeping them open during the day to let the sun in and closing them at night to keep the heat in.