Don’t wait until the temperature drops to make the essential repairs required for your home. Here are four maintenance chores that you should complete before the winter season.

Chimney Cleaning and Repair

If you need to heat your home with firewood in a fireplace, then you must clean the fireplace and the chimney before winter begins. In addition to vacuuming the wood chips, it is vital to scrape away the creosote from the walls of the chimney. You must also remove the debris from the upper area of the chimney to eliminate any blockages that could lead to an internal fire.

Seal Openings around Doors and Windows

Visit a home improvement store to buy liquid caulking that you can use in the openings around the windows or doors of your home. You can apply this caulking on the inside and the outside of your home to prevent the loss of the climate-controlled air. This will also keep you from feeling any cold drafts around the doors or the windows.

Inspect Your Home’s Water Heaters

It is essential to check your home’s hot water systems before winter to avoid having a problem with the devices. Your home may have water heaters that are powered with natural gas, electricity or solar energy, but the drop in temperature can affect the devices, leading to leaks from the holding tanks. Inspect the water heaters in your home to determine if the devices are degrading, requiring a repair or a replacement.

Cleaning Your Home’s Gutters and Downspouts

On a warm day, you can use a small tool to remove the debris from your home’s gutters. This will protect the siding of your home from the damages of erosion, but it also keeps rainwater and snow from dripping on you while you are on a home’s front porch. After loosening the dried leaves and other debris in the gutters, use your garden hose to rinse the debris through the downspouts.

Saving Money and Protecting Your Home

After completing these four home maintenance chores, you will feel better about the stability of your home during the winter, and you will also save money. While the weather gets colder outside, you can relax and enjoy your home without worrying about having an expensive heating bill or an internal fire in your home’s chimney.