There is more to fall than just getting the rakes out, it is darker earlier, we have broken out our winter coats and even though it may not officially be here, winter is certainly around the corner!

Here are five helpful home maintenance tips to ensure your home is in tip-top shape for the cold that is sure to come in the next few months.

Schedule your HVAC checkup. Nothing is worse than discovering your furnace is out of order on that first chilly night. Turn it on now to ensure it is working properly and consider having it professionally maintenanced / cleaned. You’ll also want to change any air filters in your home and prepare your humidifier for winters dry air.

Prepare your pipes. Exposed pipes can be a nightmare come winter time. Nobody wants to lose water due to a busted pipe. To avoid this, wrap all exposed pipes in foam insulation. You’ll also want to shut off the outside water supply from inside your home and drain all the water from outdoor spigots.

Clean your fireplace. Make sure your fireplace is ready for use by scheduling a professional cleaning. Birds nests and debris can accumulate in your chimney over the spring and summer, causing either a clog or a fire hazard. A clean flue will help you stay safe and warm this winter.

Clean your gutters. After autumn leaves have fallen, you might find a fair amount of debris lodged in your gutters, so make sure to give them a good clean now. Clogged gutters can lead to ice dams and prevent melting snow from draining, which in turn, can damage your roof and siding.

Keep an eye on your trees. Do you have beautiful trees surrounding your house? Be careful- these could cause problems in ice and snowstorms. Branches can get weighed down and snap, damaging your home. When you have a winter storm, help out your trees by knocking off excess snow and relieving some of the weight. A roof rake is a great tool to get those hard to reach branches.