It’s getting closer and closer to the cold winter months. You don’t want to wait until the last minute to take care of important issues in your home. Read on to learn four procedures that you should do in and around your home before winter is upon us.

Make Your Home More Energy-Efficient

We all know how high heating bills can get in the colder months. Before the snow and ice hits, seal up your windows with caulking or weather-stripping. If any of your windows or doors have any cracks in them, be sure to get them fixed ASAP. Are your windows so bad that they can’t be fixed? Consider new storm windows instead of repairing them over and over.

Another helpful tip is to reverse any ceiling fans you have in your home. When your blades run in a clockwise direction, the ceiling fan will then push heated air down into the room, saving on heating costs over time.

Spring for a Generator

Have you ever had to spend time in a cold, dark house because of a winter storm? Don’t wait until the last minute to get a generator for your home. Depending on the size you get, you can run major appliances for a few hours or you could keep everything running for days. The more watts the generator uses, the more household items you can turn back on when the power goes out. Just remember, you cannot run a portable generator inside of your home because of the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Inspect The Major Appliances

You definitely don’t want to try and get a hold of a furnace repair service when it is the coldest night of the year. Ask around to find the best heating company that can come out and inspect your furnace and boiler. Talk to them about the emergency services they offer. They may offer a service contract that enables you quicker emergency services when you need them.

You should also call a reputable company to conduct a residential septic tank cleaning before winter hits. You definitely don’t want to deal with septic issues when there is a foot of snow on the ground.

Clean Out Your Gutters

During the summer and fall months, tons of dirt and debris can quickly gather in your gutters. When there is too much debris, water and ice can quickly back up in the gutters and end up damaging your roofing and siding when it leaks. Call a local company to completely clean out your gutters and check for any damage while they are there.

These four easy procedures can save you a lot of hassle and worry during the winter months. Before the first snowfall, get your home prepared for the cold.