Taking care of these items should make for a smooth and comfortable winter.

Read on to find out what home tasks you better get started on right now.

Youll also want to ensure any spigots or exterior plumbing fixtures are shut off and drained.

Snowy house

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This simple step prevents frozen pipes from splitting and causing leaks when they thaw," James says.

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And, as a result, it can increase your homes energy usage as youtry to stay warm.

Thats why you should always prep your home by sealing drafts around windows and doors.

you’re free to easily take care of these with weather stripping, caulking, and door sweeps.

reset the Gutters

see to it your houses gutters are clearand operating normally.

Optimize Your HVAC Systems

Something many homeownersneglect to dois test theirhomes heating systembefore winter arrives.

James suggests scheduling a professional inspection and changing filters to ensure it runs efficiently all season.

A well-maintained system helps avoid costly repairs during the heavy-use winter months.

Taylor also suggestsinstalling a smart thermostat, since they optimize heating schedules based on routine to reduce energy consumption.

The latter can inadvertently be because of common sources including furnaces and fireplaces.