Here are 12 tasks to complete to get your home in peak condition for the winter.

Clean the gutters

Remove leaves, pine needles and other debris from your home’s gutters to let late fall rains and winter precipitation run freely. Make sure the water drains properly into the downspouts while you’re cleaning and check that all of the gutter attachments are securely in place.

Inspect the roof

Inspecting the roof doesn’t mean you have to climb a ladder. You can inspect it from the ground using a pair of binoculars. Look for shingles that are lifting, cracked or showing any signs that the protective granules have worn away. If you can get into your attic, look for pinholes of light or signs of water damage along the roofline.

Shut off outdoor spigots

Don’t worry about having a pipe burst this winter. To prevent, disconnect, drain and store all your garden hoses. If your outdoor spigot has a shut-off valve, close the valve and drain the faucet. You can also wrap protective insulation around the spigot for the off-season. If you have any exposed pipes, it’s important to make sure they are insulated as well to prevent them from freezing.

Patch windows and doors

Check around all your outside doors and around the windows looking for any weather-stripping that has become loose or cracked and replace it. Wave a lit match or incense stick around the window and door frames, and caulk any areas where the smoke wavers, which indicates an air leak.

Take care of your HVAC system

An annual inspection and tune-up before winter is a smart way to extend the life of your HVAC system by catching small problems before they can get worse. Bonus – when you schedule your appointment early, you can avoid waiting in line behind the homeowners who put off their tune-up until the last minute. It’s also important to personally inspect the areas of the ductwork you can easily reach to check for signs of escaping air. Joints and seams are the most likely area for leaks. An HVAC technician can also help you inspect your ductwork for leaks. In the winter, remember to check your filters monthly and change them when they get too dirty to ensure proper air flow throughout your home.

Check your attic insulation

Over the years, the insulation in your attic can break down and lose volume. Replacing the insulation as needed is a great way to guard against heat loss saving you money on your energy bill.

Reverse the rotation of your ceiling fans

In the winter, your fans should rotate clockwise to help distribute heated air evenly throughout the home. This is easily done by a switch on the fan.

Trim the trees

Texas is known for the ice storms they can get in the winter so it will pay off to trim back branches that hang over roofs and power lines. If these branches collect enough ice, they could break off and do some serious damage to your house, power lines or anything underneath them.

Flush the water heater

Particles and sediment in your water supply can collect over time in the bottom of your water heater, hindering the unit’s efficiency. Flush the water through the drain valve to clear out the material and keep your heater functioning at its best.

Prep the fireplace

There’s nothing better on a cool night, than to light the fire in your fireplace, but you want to make sure your fireplace is ready now so you don’t have smoke coming into your house. The National Fire Protection Association found that failure to clean creosote from solid-fueled heating equipment, primarily chimneys, was the main cause of home heating fires. Now is a great time to have your chimney professionally cleaned and inspected. If you don’t plan on using your fireplace, seal it off to prevent cold air from getting through.

Take care of your outdoor space

Clean your outdoor furniture before the winter and store them in the garage during the off-season to prevent them from getting dirty or rusted from the winter precipitation. If there’s no room in your garage, cover them with a tarp. Now is also a great time to replace your outdoor bulbs with energy-efficient models so you can save some money during the long winter nights.

Automate the thermostat

If your thermostat isn’t programmable, you can easily purchase one from the local hardware store. Program the thermostat so that the furnace turns on any time the house reaches a certain temperature. This way, you won’t have to continuously adjust the temperature and heat the house while you aren’t home. Furthermore, this will result in a huge savings on your energy bill.