The Third and Final Installment in a Series on Home Winterization

Get your head in the gutter
Clean gutters prevent ice dams. Ice dams cause water to enter your house—never a good thing. While you’re cleaning, make sure your gutters are working properly—i.e., directing water away from your house. And remember: While you’re cleaning, use good ladder technique.

Duct, duct, duct…
A large percentage of the heat traveling through the ducts in our homes never reaches its final destination—the vents that channel heat to living rooms, bedrooms, etc. Because of cracks and poor insulation, a lot of heat is wasted warming places that don’t need warming, like the spaces between your walls and the outdoors. By giving your ducts some attention, you stand to save money and stay warm and toasty this winter.

Consider having a professional inspect your heating system’s ducts, filter, heat exchanger, pilot light and thermostat at the beginning of winter.

This MSN article suggests vacuuming ducts every few years—your lungs will thank you.

Check your carbon monoxide and smoke detectors, and fire extinguishers
I don’t think I need to go into specifics about these. Make sure that (a) you have all of these items, and (b) that they are in good working condition.