It always seems to come by in a flash, when the frigid effects of winter hit your house head-on. Whether it’s a blizzard that blankets your home in a foot of snow, or the shivering cold that freezes your house, an icy winter can be a nuisance that affects many homeowners with extra cost and stress.

Fortunately, there are some steps you can take before winter comes around that can help prevent some more of the more serious issues. In order to help you avoid these, here’s a checklist of five recommended home maintenance tips that everyone from a first-time homeowner to an experienced plumber in Voorhees, can use before winter to ensure they get through the season safely.

Can’t Beat the Heat

First and foremost, you’ll want to make sure that your livable space isn’t draining any heat. Make sure to check for air leaks around doors and windows. If you find any holes where the air is escaping, you can easily caulk and re-seal them.

In addition, you need to check to see if your heating system is working properly by making sure it’s been properly cleaned, and that its functions are still in top shape. Whether you have a gas, a furnace, or an HVAC system, make sure that it’s been cleaned at least once in the past year. Removing dirt, dust, and extra residue can save you on excess cost. You also don’t want your heat to shut down in the middle of a blizzard, do you?

Insulation is Everything

You may forget how important insulation is. It helps to keep homes more energy-efficient, aids with noise reduction and lowers the overbearing summer heat. But perhaps winter is where it’s most useful.

Insulation helps to fill in that extra space around pipes and wiring to keep your home extra warm against the frosty cold. Make sure that you double-check your attic and walls to see if you’re able to add extra insulation. Adding it on in those areas may be able to help you lower those heating costs as well.

Recheck Your Roof

In summer and (especially) fall months, your roof may have accumulated leaves and other fallen residues from the surrounding area. Make sure that you clean off your roofing and sweep out gutters. Doing this allows snow to melt properly and drain through once winter arrives.

If you don’t do so, snow and ice can create an excess weight that causes major damage to those areas. You’ll also want to take a careful look at your roof to see if there are any missing shingles or other areas where air might be leaking in.

Watch those Walkways

We’ve all been there before: we’re walking up to a friend or relative’s house, and then suddenly, we slip on a patch of ice and fall to the ground in milliseconds. Home walkways and driveways are some of the most important areas to focus on in winter, as having an icy entrance to your home can lead to serious injury.

Make sure you’ve stocked up on ice melt and rock salt so that you’re ready to de-ice these parts of your outdoor areas. Also, make sure that you have--or have bought--a reliable shovel for when the time comes to start that snow shoveling task.

Stock Up

You never know when that next blizzard will come around, make the roads unsafe for travel, or cause an injury. In order to ensure that you won’t be stuck in the cold without any food or necessary supplies, make sure you have an emergency kit. Remember to stock up on:

Bottled water
High-energy snacks (granola bars, dried fruit, canned nuts)
Gloves, hats, blankets, and socks
Flashlight with extra batteries
First-aid kit
Snowbrush and ice scraper
Jumper cables

Having these items on hand in case of emergency can save you time, energy, and even be a key difference-maker in a serious event. A homeowner should always have a kit on hand and buying these goods individually before the winter season is typically less expensive than buying an “emergency kit” that is designed in groups.

Winter is always a stressful time for home maintenance. However, with these tips, you can take smart precautions to ensure that your house is ready for heavy snow, slippery ice, and whatever else that cold may bring.

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