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Ready or not, fall has arrived, and it’s time to get your house in tip-top shape for winter.

With the arrival of September comes the arrival of fall, and close on its heels, winter. Take advantage of the good weather to get your house cleaned up, fixed up and tightened up for winter. Proper maintenance during this time of year will reduce energy costs and reduce the possibility of seasonal damage during winter. A recent Realty Times articles shares 10 tips to help homeowners prepare for the cold.

1. Test fire and smoke alarms, as well as carbon monoxide detectors. Batteries for these devices should be checked every six months.

2. Check your heating system. In a system fueled by gas or oil, check the filter, pilot light and burners. In addition, fireplaces, boilers, space heaters, wood-burning stoves and water heaters should be serviced once a year.

3. Clean heating ducts. Clean and vacuum up dust from vents, cold air returns and baseboard heaters. Dust build-up is a major cause of indoor pollutants and can aggravate allergies. Get a professional cleaning for your ducts every three years.

4. In the yard, rake up fallen leaves and remove dead branches and other plants. Dead landscaping can affect your living landscaping and can even damage your house (picture a dead limb from that huge oak tree falling on your deck – ouch).

5. Clean your gutters. Remove all debris, such as leaves, from gutters to enable water to drain effectively. Trapped water that freezes and then thaws can damage the gutters and the roof, and overflowing gutters can cause problems of their own.

6. While you’re cleaning your gutters, inspect your roof. You don’t have to climb up there if you don’t feel completely safe, but have a brief look for any damaged or loose shingles, gaps or damaged mortar around the chimney. Replacing a roof is expensive, so catching problems early on can save you money.

7. Also on the exterior, check walls and window sills for damage, such as cracks, gaps, splitting wood or loose mortar. Wood trim and siding may be deteriorating or in need of a paint job. You should also caulk exterior joints around doors and windows. This will help keep your home weather-proof and prevent expensive heating bills.

8. Check steps and handrails. Broken steps and loose banisters can be especially dangerous in winter, when snow disguises problems and people are more likely to take a nasty fall.

9. Swimming pools, outside faucets and sprinkler systems should be shut down. You can shut down your outside faucets, while you would be best advised to get a professional service to winterize the other items.

10. If you have storm windows, prepare them for installation by checking all fasteners and weather stripping. Storm windows that fit snugly will help reduce energy costs.

This is also a good time to do some interior maintenance, such as carpet cleaning or painting, so you can open windows for ventilation. This is also a good time to add insulation to an attic or crawl space to reduce energy costs. Now you can sit back and enjoy the winter with a cup of hot chocolate!