The fall is a good time of year to start preparing your home for winter.  Special maintenance is required on your home to keep it in great shape, and it's best to do the maintenance in the fall and not wait until the cold temperatures make it difficult or not practical.  

Prepare Landscaping & Outdoor Surfaces

• Trim branches on trees that hand too close to the house or electrcal wires.
• Check on-line to see when your trees should be pruned to prevent winter injury.
• Plant spring flower bulbs and lift and store any bulbs that cannot winter over.
• Seal driveways, patios and wood decks.
• Move potted plants indoors or to a sheltered area.

Service Lawn & Landscaping Equipment

• When the grass stops growing, thoroughly clean the lawnmower, drain out the gas, and store it in an approved gas can.
• Clean and store all summer gardening equipment.
• Clean out the storage shed, place the summer equipment in the back and move the winter equipment to the front
• Service or tune-up snow blowers
• Replace worn rakes and snow shovels
• Buy bags of ice-melt or sand and store them in a dry place

Winterize Windows and Doors

• Remove summer screens and install storm windows.
• Check windows for air leaks, such as cracks or worn caulking and replace or repair as necessary.
• Install or replace weatherstripping around all exterior doors, including the garage doors.

Inspect the Roof, Gutters and Downspouts

• Check flashing to ensure water cannot enter your home.
• Check roof shingles and replace any that are worn or damaged.
• Clean out the gutters and use a hose to spray water down the downspouts to clear away debris.
• If you have a lot of trees near your house, cleaning out gutters should be a regular maintenance item in the Spring and Fall.  Clean them mid-season, and then again when all the leaves have fallen.
• Check for areas of water around the foundation.  Consider installing extensions on the downspouts to direct water away from the foundation.

Ensure The Foundation is Secure

• Rake away all debris and edible vegetation from the foundation.
• Seal up entry points to keep small animals from crawling under the house.
• Tuckpoint or seal foundation cracks to keep water, cold air, and rodents out of the house.
• Inspect sill plates for dry rot or pest infestation.

Check Out Your Furnace

• Have a professional inspect your funace and clean the ducts.  Many winter allergy symptoms are a result of dirty ductwork blowing around dust and mold spores.
• Furnace filters need changed monthly.  Write the dates in your calendar now so you don't forget.  Dirty filters can cause maintenance problems in older and newer furnaces.
• If you have hot water heat, bleed the valves by opening them slightly and when water appears, close them, or call a professional.
• Remove all objects from around your furnace area, especially anythingthat may be flammable.

Have a Fireplace?  Get it Ready

• Check out the chimney top and make sure the cap and screening are secure to keep out rodents and birds.  While you're up there, check the mortar between bricks and tuckpoint if necessary
• Depending on how often you burn wood in your fireplace, it may need cleaned to remove the soot and creosote and avoid a possible chimney fire.  
• Load up on your firewood in the fall while the weather is still nice.  Keep it stored in a dry place away from the exterior of your home
• Open and close the damper to ensure it is in good working order.  Clean it with a good brush to ensure it opens and closes completely.  

 Prevent Plumbing Freezes

• Drain all garden hoses. Insulate exposed plumbing pipes.
• Drain air conditioner pipes and, if your AC has a water shut-off valve, turn it off.
• If you go on vacation, leave the heat on, set to at least 55 degrees. 

Careful attention to the continual maintenance of your home will ensure your comfort and safety during the winter months.  Winter is also a great time to get caught up on all those interior projects you didn't have time for while cutting the grass and tending your garden and landscaping.