Getting your home ready for winter can help you protect your property from many of the harsh environmental elements. Taking the right steps can also make your household run more efficiently and possibly even save you a lot of money in the long run. Here are five practical ways to prepare your home for winter.

Inspect the Roof

Even though you may think that your roof is in tiptop shape, there could be underlying damage that causes more problems during the winter. You may want to hire a roof inspector to look over your roof to see if there are any missing shingles or cracks that could cause water to leak into your home. If any repairs need to be made, you should consider hiring contractors or doing the work yourself before the season in order to prevent further damage to your home.

Shut Off Outdoor Faucets

You probably won’t be using your outdoor faucets during the winter, so you will want to turn them off in order to prevent any undrained water in the pipes from freezing. Frozen water could cause the pipes to expand and burst, which will likely result in costly repairs. All garden hoses should be disconnected from the faucets so that any remaining water can drain. You may even want to consider investing in frost-proof faucets.

Have Heating Ducts Inspected

Heating ducts can form cracks that go unnoticed for many years, and this may result in a lot of wasted energy. The heated air from these ducts could leak through cracks and into your attic or underneath your house instead of into the living areas of your home.

Seal the Fireplace

Energy can also escape through open fireplaces. When you are not using your fireplace, you should block its opening using cardboard and expansive foam that you can purchase at a hardware store. You also have the option of purchasing a more expensive seal that is specifically made to block fireplaces.

Tend to Your Trees

It is important to make sure that any large trees in your yard are sufficiently trimmed before winter approaches. Any ice that forms on branches may cause them to break off and fall, which could cause damage to your property. It will also be a good idea to have any dead trees that could topple over during a windstorm or heavy snowfall removed. You may consider hiring professionals, like Schulhoff Tree & Lawn Care, Inc., to help you trim or remove bigger trees from your yard.

Winterizing your home will likely prove to be worth the extra time and money. If you take the proper precautions, you have a better chance of keeping your property intact throughout the season.