Preparing your home for the winter months ahead 
As the winter season approaches it is time to make sure your home is ready for the cold months ahead. If you have already made a list of things to do and are working your way through it, way to go. If not, or if you just want to compare your list to mine, here are some things that my home inspector says you should take care before winter arrives.
Have your fireplace and chimney cleaned - Have a professional inspect and clean your fireplace and chimney prior to using it this winter.
Have your furnace cleaned and inspected - To make sure your furnace is running efficiently, have your furnace cleaned and serviced. This will help with your energy bills as well as keep you and your family more comfortable this winter. As as the winter months progress, don't forget to change your furnace filters as needed.
Check the batteries in your smoke detector - If you did not already do this when the time changed, you will want to change the batteries in your smoke detectors now and make sure they are working properly.
Clean your ceiling fans - Ceiling fans are not just for those hot summer days. If your ceiling fan has a switch for winter use, to turn the blades in the opposite direction and move the warm air from the ceiling back down to the room, you will want to flip that switch.
Check the weather stripping around your windows and doors- Heat escaping out windows and doors can be very costly on your utility bill. Check and make sure everything is sealed tightly, and if you have single pane windows you may want to consider saving up some money to replace those with new double pane high energy efficient windows.
Clean your gutters, downspouts and roof - You will want to check your roof for any leaks, and for any lose or missing singles. Make sure your gutters and downspouts are flowing freely. When they get clogged water can begin to seep into your home and cause great damage.
Prepare your yard - Make sure lawn furniture is cleaned and put away or covered for the winter months. If you have a pool or sprinkler system, make sure it is drained and winterized. Put hoses away and make sure all outside faucets are off so they don't freeze.
Emergency kits- Before the winter storms hit it is a good time to check your emergency kits or make one if you don't have one. For your home you will want to have a flashlight, battery powered radio, non-parishable food and water, and a first aid kit. For more ideas about home emergency preparedness check out Ready America. If you will be doing any winter traveling this year, you will want to have an emergency kit for your car as well. Some items to consider having with you are, extra blankets, roadside flares, a quart of oil, first aid kit, flashlight, jumper cables and food and water. And before you take off on a road trip over the passes check out the pass reports for threatening conditions or possible closures.
With a little bit of preparation you can have a safe and wonderful winter season.