Leaves-in-Gutters1.  Flip your ceiling fan reverse switch so that fan blades rotate clockwise to help push rising heat down.  Since the heat is being diverted more efficiently, you may want to consider turning down your thermostat to help reduce energy costs.

2.  Look up! It might sound obvious but check your roof gutters and downspouts.  If your gutters are full of leaves and sticks, water can back up damaging roofing, siding and wood trim. Issues with the gutters can increase the likeliness of leaks, which can then have a damaging impact on the interior of your home.

3.  Prevent exterior water pipes from bursting once the cold weather drops the temperature to below freezing by turning off the valves to the exterior hose bibs. Make sure all the water is drained from the pipes, if not; the water can freeze-up causing the pipes to crack or burst and leaving you with a large headache on the inside of your home.

4.  Check anything with an air filter and clean and/or replace when necessary.  This will not only help keep your family healthy in the cold months but it will also help your systems run much more efficiently.

5.  One of the most important things any homeowner should do is check their smoke and carbon monoxide detectors annually.  You should make it a habit to dust, test and replace the batteries to ensure they are working properly.

6.  Check anything that has a seal from the outdoor elements. Caulking is an easy way to protect any open joints around windows and doors. It helps keep your home warmer, may lower heating and cooling bills and keep anything that typically lives outside during the warmer months out of the comfort of your toasty house.