When the weather gets cold, you likely look forward to hanging holiday decorations and hosting parties. There’s plenty of fun in your near future, but not if the changing weather damages your house. Homeowners can get ready for winter with these six tips that protect your property and prepare it for the winter season.

Check Your Carbon Monoxide Detector

Every house should have a carbon monoxide detector with fresh batteries before winter begins. You’ll likely use your furnace more often, which is one of the primary sources of carbon monoxide because it burns fuel. The odorless gas kills 430 unsuspecting people annually and sends another 50,000 to the hospital for treatment. Get a detector or replace the batteries in your existing model to keep your family safe while using your heating system. 2

Schedule an HVAC Inspection

Your HVAC system keeps your home cool during the summer and warm in the winter. The last thing you need is to wake up in a cold house because it broke during the night. Schedule an inspection as the summer weather disappears. An expert will catch signs of aging and recommend potential fixes so it lasts throughout the winter.

Prepare Your Garage Door

Cold weather and freezing temperatures directly affect garage doors. Ice can freeze under the door and make it stick to the ground. It can also freeze the gears. Pressing the automatic door opener multiple times to fix the problem can burn out the motor instead of opening the door.

Lubricate the gears and bearings, plus the track, for easy movement. You can also keep an eye out for moisture along the bottom of the door and leave it cracked open to prevent ice. If the door becomes stuck and nothing helps, contact a professional to safely fix the problem so nothing breaks.

Insulate Your Pipes

Even though the pipes under your sinks are inside your house, the water within them can freeze and burst. It’s always smart to insulate your pipes before it gets cold. You can apply foam or wrap the pipes in insulating tape to maintain a warmer temperature within the piping. You’ll reduce the odds of pipe ruptures and costly plumbing and cleanup repairs.

Clean Your Fireplace

Storm debris and small animals can clog your fireplace with debris during warm seasons. It may also contain soot buildup from previous winters if you used it frequently. Clean your fireplace or schedule a professional cleaning to clear it out. There will be less debris to potentially catch on fire or trap harmful gasses that could flow back into your home.

Check for Roof Damage

Summer thunderstorms and gusty fall winds can cause roof damage. Warped shingles and cracks are typical property damage because they’re out of sight. Check for these roof problems sooner rather than later because they’re more susceptible to ice.

As water freezes and melts, expanding materials become more damaged and create problems like mold growth or leaks. Use a ladder to get a closer inspection and plan to replace any loose or missing shingles before the first snow of the season. Get Your Home Ready for Winter Before pulling your holiday decorations out of storage, homeowners can get ready for winter with these six tips. Preventive measures like inspections, garage door lubrication, and pipe insulation will keep your house safe and cozy even during freezing ice storms or blizzards.