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Before the temperature dips and the snow begins to fall, think ahead and take steps to get your home ready for winter weather.

Inside the home:

Have your furnace or boiler checked and serviced by a licensed contractor at least once a year, preferably before the heating season begins. Clean or replace the furnace filter, if necessary. Have your fuel tanks filled and keep an eye on levels throughout the winter. Set your heat no lower than 55 degrees – if the temperature inside the walls where water piping is located is colder than the living spaces; open the doors to unoccupied rooms to keep an even temperature throughout the house. Maintain your wood-burning or pellet stoves according to the manufacturer's instructions. Have your chimney checked and serviced by a licensed contractor at least once a year to guard against chimney fires.

Check smoke detectors, fire alarms, and carbon monoxide detectors and replace batteries to ensure they are operating correctly. Check for water leaks and fix problems immediately; wrap water piping in UL-Listed heat tape and insulate if it is exposed in unheated areas such as garages, crawl spaces or attics. Use only thermostatically controlled heat tape if your water piping is plastic and follow the manufacturer's installation instructions. Add extra insulation in the attic to guard against ice dams. If too much heat escapes into the attic, it can warm the ice and snow on the roof. When it refreezes, it can cause an ice dam, which can lead to water damage inside your home or possibly even a roof collapse. Learn how to shut off your water and know where your pipes are located in case they do freeze; you may be able to prevent water damage. Add weather stripping around doors and caulk windows to guard against drafts and heat loss. Remove screens from windows, and install storm windows.

Outside the house:

Trim trees and remove dead branches, so they do not damage your home or injure someone if they fall because of ice, snow or wind. Keep gutters clear of leaves, sticks and other debris to ensure melting snow can drain properly. Make sure downspouts direct water away from the foundation. Repair steps and handrails to make them safer in the ice and snow. Make sure you have snow shovels and a roof rake on hand. Have your snow blower serviced and any necessary repairs made? Stock your ice melting compound to melt ice on walkways. Have your generator serviced if you have one. Keep fuel for snow blowers and generators in approved safety containers and away from heat or flame producing devices.

If you have any questions regarding your winter preparations and your home policy, please reach out to your advisor.