If you want to prepare your outdoor surroundings for winter, it is important to take the time to make sure it is done right, and that means prepping a checklist of things to do so that you have no worries when winter comes. Fall is the best time to prepare for winter. Here are some guidelines for you to follow: Have an HVAC professional do an inspection of your heating ducts and furnace so that your airflow and heat has nothing that will hinder it and cost you money. After that inspection change out your furnace filters, usually every month is good. Bleed all hot water radiator valves by opening them until you see water come out and then close them. Trapped air makes an awful bang in the winter when the hot water mixes with the cold air. Secure the chimney with a screen to keep out rodents, birds because they want to be near the heat, and will build nests in your chimney. If you are going to use your chimney, make sure it is in good usable condition, to do this, have the chimney cleaned of all soot and creosote, and make sure the damper opens and closes properly. For the chimney outside, check for gaps in the mortar, and repair. Check the outside pipes to make sure that there are no gaps, and seal then if there are. Check weather stripping around all doors and replace, and the same for the caulking around all the windows. It is important that the seal be tight, because you will pay a lot more money in heating if the seals are not tight. A much-neglected area that always surprises people the most is the roof, as well as the eaves roughing and the downspouts. Here is where the heat will rise, and if the roof is in bad shape, say with improper insulation, the heat rises, melts the snow, which freezes causing ice dams, the same as the eaves roughing. This will cause much more damage and cost a lot more money of it is not in good condition. Flashing too, is another neglected area, and it too will cost a lot if it is not in good condition because water will leak into the house from there, so make sure that you check the flashing and caulk it wherever you see a gap. Foundations are also important, and are indirect contact with the ground, so if you have any debris or vegetation, take it away from the foundation. Check for all possible animal entry point around the foundation. A mouse can easily get into a crack that is very thin, and if a mouse can, so can insects, so seal all foundation cracks tight, either with tuck pointing or a good outdoor sealant. Insulate all exposed plumbing pipes, drain air conditioner pipes, and turn off valves. Leave the heat on if you are going away for any length of time. About the Author: Thoreau Chuong enjoys writing about home improvement, home & garden, and other home related articles. If you live in Texas, request a free quote on our website home remodeling Dallas or home remodeling Fort Worth.