As you know, Western New York has its share of winter weather. Fall is a great time to start checking and preparing your home for the winter. We have collected a checklist of things you should do to make sure that you are ready. Do a test run. Turn your thermostat to heating mode and set it to 80 degrees. You should hear your furnace turn on and you should get warm air blowing in a few minutes. If everything is running OK, then you can turn the thermostat off or back to A/C. This would also be a good time to stock up on furnace filters and change your old one. If you haven't done so, get your ducts cleaned. If you have a propane or oil furnace, make sure that your tanks are easy to get to and topped off so that you are ready when the cold hits. For window air conditioners, remove them and store for winter. If they can't be removed, then close the vents and make sure to get a air conditioning cover. You may also need to cover your condensing unit as well. If you have a fireplace or heat with wood, now is a good time to get the chimney cleaned. Make sure that the top is properly capped off to keep birds and rodents out as well. You may also want to check your fireplace or stove for cracks and repair as needed. On a day when it's windy outside, close your windows and feel for air leaks. You can use an incense stick for this too if you don't mind the smell. Watch the smoke trail and if it becomes anything other than vertical, you have an air leak. Typically air leaks will be at the edges where the window is hinged, slides or meets another unit, such as between the two panels of a double hung window. The easiest fix here is to check for weatherstripping on the side and bottoms of the doors. Install weatherstripping on any leaking doors. Check roof for missing or damaged shingles and have them replaced. Check flashing around chimneys and other roof projections which are often the source of leaks. Make sure gutters and downspouts are clean, having no leaves. Wet leaves remaining in the gutters over winter add significant weight and volume to the gutter when frozen and increase the risk of damage. Have your sprinkler system winterized no later than the end of October. Winterizing should include turning off the water supply and blowing compressed air through the sprinkler lines to purge them of water and prevent them from freezing and bursting. Drain the gas from your lawn mower or just let the mower run until it is out of gas. This might be a good time to test that snow blower out as well. If you have any exposed water or drain piping at all in uninsulated spaces such as in a crawlspace, attic, outside walls, etc., make sure to insulate them with foam insulation at a minimum. Ideally you should wrap them with electrical heating tape first, then insulate them. Known as hose bibbs or sill-cocks, the exterior faucet needs to have its water supply turned off inside the house, and you also need to drain water from it by opening up the exterior faucet. You may also want to consider an insulated cover for the hose bibb. And remember to disconnect your garden hoses from the sill cocks or outside faucets and drain them if you store them outside. Don't forget to move or cover patio furniture. If your deck needs it, consider giving it a fresh coat of sealer before winter. Drain any water fountains, unplug the pumps and prepare for winter. Insulate your hot water tank with an insulating blanket you can buy at the hardware store. Insulate exterior outlets and switch plates with inexpensive foam sealing gasket. If you don't use your fireplace often and it leaks air, you can cut a piece of fiberglass insulation and stuff it into the fireplace behind your glass doors to block the cold air coming down the chimney. Of course, you remove this when you make a fire... Buy indoor candles and matches / lighter for use during a power shortage. Find the phone numbers for your utility companies and tape them near your phone or inside the phone book. Buy a battery back-up to protect your computer and sensitive electronic equipment. Store extra bottled water and non-perishable food supplies (including pet food, if you have a pet), blankets and a first-aid kit in a dry and easy-to-access location. Prepare an evacuation plan in the event of an emergency.

One last tip: Manh of the items you need can be found at your local Valu Home Centers. Please ask any associate for more information ono getting your home ready for winter.