As we move through November, winter is almost on our doorstep.
As a companion to our post on winterizing your home’s outdoors, here are tips for preparing your home’s indoors for winter.

Change your smoke alarm batteries
It’s important to change the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors at least once a year, as recommended by the National Fire Protection Association. Use this opportunity to dust and clean your alarms since dust accumulation can cause them to underperform.

Properly installed and maintained smoke alarms in the home are one of the best (and least expensive) fire protection items.
Clean out your pantries and stock up on goods
Fall is a good time to thoroughly dispose of any expired medicines or goods and update your home emergency kit. So take inventory and stock up on any necessities needed. Make sure you have good batteries, a fully stocked first aid kit, and up-to-date fire extinguishers.
Tackle Your Home Maintenance List
To improve your home’s energy efficiency and safety during winter, your maintenance list should also include:

• Replacing air filters to help your heating / cooling systems run smoothly
• Cleaning dryer vents, ducts and space behind the unit help with fire prevention
• Cleaning fridge coils to help keep the unit running efficiently
• Sealing any cracks and gaps in and around doors and windows to stop air leaks
• Having your chimney inspected and cleaned if necessary to reduce fire hazards
• Scheduling a professional tune-up of your furnace to ensure peak performance and avoid breakdowns

Prepare for winter now, and you’ll be glad you did
As the Benjamin Franklin said, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
After performing these tasks, you’ll be much more prepared to enjoy the colder winter months with improved safety, peace of mind, and comfort.