Winter will be here soon, so now is the time to check around your house to make sure it is ready for cold and blustery weather when it arrives.

• Gutters. Do one final check of your gutters to make sure it is free of leaves and other debris, as it can cause water to dam up and freeze. Keep in mind that if you are unable to safely check them yourself, hire a professional who can take care of it for you.

• Shrubs and Tree Limbs. When the wind is blowing, the trees and shrubs close to your home can scrape against the exterior of your home. Besides keeping you awake at night, they can also cause damage. Trim them back so that they aren’t hitting your house.

• Furnace. Your furnace is what keeps your home and family comfortable all winter long, so make sure you keep it in good working order. If you haven’t already done so, have your HVAC professional do a furnace check-up where he can clean it and detect any potential issues.

• Outside Items. If you still have patio furniture, flower pots or garden hoses outside, move them back inside. Also, make sure that your outside spigots are drained and turned off from the inside. This will prevent  potential pipe bursts from happening in below-freezing temperatures.

• Kitchen Sink. Before holiday cooking and baking get in full swing, clean your garbage disposal and also your faucet aerator.