Christmas may be over, but the cold winter weather is here to stay for a while (at least, in many, if not most, parts of the country). With it comes freezing temperatures and possibly even harsh winter storms. To protect your home, take a little time during this holiday season and do a home maintenance check.

When completing a home maintenance check, there are three key areas to focus on: storm damage prevention, energy efficiency, and routine maintenance. Paying attention to these three areas can help save you from annoying things such as insurance claims and high energy bills.

Winter storm damage prevention

If you’ve seen the movie Frozen, you know ice and snow can cause a lot of problems. Snow and ice also can cause problems for your home. Winter storm damage prevention is an important item to consider when preparing for the colder months. A little bit of work can go a long way in protecting your home from the elements.

Here are a few steps you can take:

• Clean out the gutters – Clogged gutters are a major cause of ice dams, which can lead to extensive water damage to your home. It’s best to clean them out while the weather is still mild, but if you didn’t take care of it in the fall, make sure to do so during winter.
• Check out the roof – Between ice, snow and howling winter winds, your roof can be at major risk for winter storm damage. Check for missing, damaged, or loose shingles and replace any that need it.
• Remove loose branches – Walk around your property and remove any loose or dead branches from the surrounding trees. If not, you might find a branch through your window during a windy winter storm.

Keep hot air in and cold air out

If you are like most homeowners, high utility bills are a big concern in winter. Maximizing energy efficiency in your home should be a top priority during your seasonal prep. You’ll find that doing a few small things can go a long way in reducing your winter heating costs.

• Reverse your fan – Did you know that can reverse the direction of your ceiling fan? It’s easy to do and it creates a draft that redistributes warm air from the ceiling into the room. By redistributing the heat, you won’t have to waste energy turning up the thermostat.
• Check your heater – Before you crank up the heat this winter, it’s a good idea to have your system inspected by a professional. Why? Heating systems will use fuel more efficiently, last longer and have fewer problems if properly serviced.
• Dodge the draft – Drafts are a common culprit for lost heat from your home. Installing weather stripping and caulk around doors, windows, pipes and other drafty areas is an easy fix and can more than pay for itself by keeping energy costs down.

Routine maintenance

Along with tasks that can help prevent storm damage prevention or maximize energy efficiency, there also are a few routine maintenance checks that you should consider:

• Brush up on fire safety – Between roasting chestnuts on an open fire, burning candles, and lighting the Christmas tree, the holidays are notorious for house fires. Now is a good time to check the batteries in your smoke detectors and to revisit fire safety with your family.
• Review your home insurance policy – Whether you’re just brushing up on your home insurance coverage or you want to shop around for a less expensive premium, take this time to review your current policy. Make sure you understand your policy limits and up your coverage if necessary.