The cold months of winter are the perfect time to stay inside as much as possible. While you’re warm and cozy, you can go around your home doing some winter maintenance tasks. These tasks can help protect your home from winter storms and other winter hazards.

Prevent frozen pipes

Your pipes can freeze when temperatures drop low enough in winter. Pipes in exterior walls have the highest chance of freezing, which can burst and pour water into your home, causing major water damage.

You can prevent frozen pipes by insulating pipes along exterior walls. Keeping cabinets under sinks open can also help ensure your pipes stay warm. If you haven’t already, turn off and empty outdoor faucets to prevent water inside them from freezing.

Cover your outdoor AC unit

Your outdoor air conditioning unit should be able to handle winter weather, but it doesn’t hurt to cover it. Putting a protective cover on your AC unit can help lower the risk of damage and keep the inside of it clean and free of debris.

Schedule a chimney cleaning

You might want to use your chimney to add a bit of warmth to your home during winter. Before you use it, make sure it’s clean and in good condition. Have a professional fireplace and chimney cleaning and inspection done before use. Doing so helps ensure your fireplace is safe to use and doesn’t have creosote buildup, bird nests or other debris inside it.

Add attic insulation

If your home feels cooler even with the heat on, adding insulation to your attic might help. A well-insulated attic helps keep warmer air inside your home instead of allowing it to leak outside. Having enough insulation also helps prevent your heating system from having to run frequently, which reduces wear and tear.

Prepare for Winter Storms

Part of your winter maintenance checklist should include being prepared for winter storms. Have batteries, bottled water, nonperishable food, blankets, a first aid kit and other supplies in case your power goes out. Preparing for winter storms also involves making sure you have rock salt or a similar product to put on sidewalks and walkways to prevent ice buildup. Make sure you keep snow shovels handy and, if you have a snowblower, check to make sure it’s working properly.