When the leaves start to change and the weather gets cooler it’s time to evaluate your home to help prevent winter damage.

A common missed item in your home, believe it or not, is your lint trap. Not properly cleaning out your lint trap in your dryer can cause a fire. Also it’s a good idea, two times a year, to clean out all of the connecting hoses to your dryer.

Another often missed item is your smoke detector’s batteries. Make sure you change your batteries twice a year and it’s a good idea to clean off the dust and test your detector to make sure it’s in proper, working order.

Also, make sure you take the time to clean out your rain gutters after all the leaves have fallen. If you do not clean your gutter’s ice damns are more likely to occur. Also, check the wood behind the gutters to see if it is in need of repairs.

Call your local HVAC company to inspect and clean your heating system. Not only can this prevent a potential loss, it can possibly save you energy costs. Also, if you have a fireplace make sure everything is in proper working order and cleaned.

These tips are just a short list of ways to prevent winter damage and home insurance claims.