We’ve already had a few chilly days to remind us that winter [is here]. Take what’s left of this [this week] make sure your home is ready for cold weather.

Winterizing your home can save you money on your heating bills and help you avoid costly repairs.

The following steps are recommended by the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency:

• Clean out your gutters. Remove leaves and other debris to allow rainwater to flow freely, which helps prevent icicles and ice dams in freezing temperatures. Ice dams can cause roof leaks.
• Apply weather stripping around your doors and windows if you detect drafts around them. Use caulk or expandable spray foam if you have large openings around other areas, such as where pipes and vents enter and exit exterior walls. Place draft guards on the bottom of doors to keep heat from escaping under the door.
• Apply window insulation film. This should keep heat from escaping through the windows.
• Insulate water pipes in areas of the house that are uninsulated, such as attics, crawlspaces and basements.
• Remove water hoses from outdoor faucets. Drain the hose and store it in a covered location. Place an insulated faucet cover over outdoor water faucets to prevent pipes from freezing and bursting.  

You may also consider having your power company conduct an energy audit of your home to learn how your home uses energy and where you can make changes to be more efficient.

To stay up to date on the weather on local warnings, head to the National Weather Service's Central Mississippi page at https://www.weather.gov/jan/

To learn more about winterizing your home and for additional steps you can take, visit the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency and Energy.gov websites.