There’s no denying it: Winter is on its way. That means fall is the time to prep your home for the impending snow, rain, and cold weather. There are a number of ways to get your home ready for the cold winter months ahead. So let’s start indoors.

Chimney maintenance: You probably haven’t run your fireplace for a few months, so before you do, clean the fireplace and flue. Hiring a chimney sweep to take care of the dirty work is recommended, although it’s possible to do this yourself.

Things to look out for and eliminate include: any birds or pests that may be stuck (and probably dead) in your chimney, the toxic buildup of creosote, and any cracks or leaks.

Caulking and weather stripping: Your doors and windows can be your home’s biggest culprits of air leakage, and fixing these problems is very easy. If you have leaks at your doors or windows, use weather stripping or apply a bead (or line) of caulking to shore them up.

Ventilation: Your home still needs to have a certain amount of airflow. It’s a fine balance, but a home that’s too tightly constructed or has no airflow is a home that probably requires improved air quality.

Be sure you have a plan to deal with water (whether it’s a little excess moisture, or flooding and water damage) so that mold and mildew don’t suddenly appear and begin to terrorize your home. Because they will.

Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors: You probably already have smoke detectors, so make sure the batteries are at full power.

We’ve all heard about the dangers of carbon monoxide inside the home. Carbon monoxide is often produced in homes that have older heating elements (like furnace and heating ducts) and cooking equipment. Carbon monoxide detectors are relatively inexpensive and can truly help to save a life.

Next up later this week, get ready to prepare the outside of your home for the winter…

Until next time, Happy Home Improving!

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