With the winter season almost upon us, preparing your house for winter should be on the top of your to-do list right now. Winter can seem like a gentle season, with falling snow and cooler temperatures that encourage you to cozy up with a warm drink. But the winter months, including cold weather and winter storms, can be fierce and damage your home if you aren’t prepared. Bankrate can help you get ready for winter with tips to prepare your home. These steps might help lessen the damage to your home during winter storms and might even help you avoid damage altogether.

Tune Up Your Heating System

For about $80 to $100, a technician will inspect your furnace or heat pump to be sure the system is clean and in good repair, and that it can achieve its manufacturer-rated efficiency. The inspection also measures carbon-monoxide leakage.

Winterize Water Pipes

Water supply pipes are especially susceptible to freezing in cold weather, and burst pipes from freezing can cause some of the most expensive repairs in the home. Exposed drain pipes can also occasionally freeze, so, it is important to systematically review the plumbing pipes in your home.

Assess Your Roof

Roof maintenance is best done before the cold sets in, and it’s crucial for preparing the outside of your home for winter. The best way to determine your roof’s integrity is to do a visual inspection. You will want to look for sections of the roof where the shingles are cracking, bending, or just plain missing. Loose screws and rusted panels should also be checked to see if there are some potential leaks in the making. Review our roof maintenance checklist to ensure your roof is ready to withstand the winter months.

Assess windows and doors

Heat lost through windows and doors can account for up to 30 percent of home energy use, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. To keep heat in the house, look for cracks or gaps in the exterior caulking, check seals around exterior door and add caulking or weather stripping as needed. While these DIY fixes can reduce heat loss, a professional energy assessment can provide additional insights into areas where you may be losing heat and recommend fixes.

Check Batteries in Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, heating is the cause of 27 percent of structure fires during the winter months. So make sure all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are working in your home. And it's best to have smoke alarms in every room of your home, including hallways. Be sure that home maintenance includes checking the batteries in all alarms once a month is always on your home maintenance checklist.

Maintain Your Chimney

If you have a working fireplace, get your chimneys cleaned and inspected annually by a pro to help decrease the risk of fire from buildup or blockages, says the Chimney Safety Institute of America. These yearly inspections may also help to prevent carbon monoxide intrusion.

Prep Your Snow Removal Tools.

Have your snow shovels and sidewalk salt ready for anything winter brings. Keeping your driveway clear from snow and ice is a must to keep your family safe, but clearing your sidewalk is your responsibility to your neighbors. Not only will you make it easier for neighbors to go for a stroll, but you’ll also be protecting them from slipping and falling — and you might be protecting yourself from any legal liabilities, too.

Reverse Your Ceiling Fans

This simple step shouldn’t take you very long at all. If your ceiling fan has a reverse switch, use it to make sure the blades are turning in a clockwise direction. Doing this will help push down all the rising warm air from the ceiling back into the room. This tip is especially crucial for spaces that have high ceilings.

Make Sure You're Prepared in the Event of a Winter Storm

Winter storms can come at any time and wreak havoc on your home, and even knock out the power. Make sure you're prepared in the event of a winter storm by having an emergency survival kit in your home. Make sure to stock up on bottled water, non-perishable food, flashlights, first-aid supplies, batteries, and a smartphone charger.

While winter home preparation can seem intimidating, a little work can go a long way! Taking these steps will prepare your home for the increased amount of time you’ll be spending indoors, and it will also ensure your time there is warm and cozy.

Enjoy your cozy home.