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Prepping your home for winter begins before the temperatures drop. By following these 10 steps, you will keep your family and house safe and prevent high heating bills.

  1. Turn off exterior faucets, remove hoses and guard them with a cold-weather faucet cover. This will prevent these items from freezing when you face colder temperatures.

  2. Replace the air filter in the furnace and test your furnace to make sure it works properly. This will help you save money on your electricity bill and keep your home safe. See how to change your air filter by watching this maintenance video .

  3. Switch ceiling fans to reverse or clockwise position to push warm air down from the ceiling to the floor. This small step will help lower your heating bill, especially if your home has higher ceilings.

  4. To protect pipes from freezing, set heat in your home to 62 degrees Fahrenheit when you’re on vacation or when you leave the home for any extended period of time. Even if you don’t live in a cold area, you must always protect your pipes from freezing.

  5. Allow a small water drip in your sink and keep the below-sink cupboard doors open to protect pipes from freezing if you will be away for an extended period of time. Ensure that your sink drain is clear of any debris, avoiding problematic clogs. If your drain is clogged , fix it as soon as possible by following the instructions provided.

  6. If your pipes freeze, be sure to turn off the water valve to help lessen damage to your home. Learn how to use a water shut off valve in this maintenance video .

  7. Before winter begins, check the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. Learn more about your smoke detector in this maintenance video .

  8. Keep the fireplace clean and the flue closed unless using the fireplace. Make sure you have enough fuel supplies in case extreme cold weather hits.

  9. Before winter begins, notify Invitation Homes if you notice exposed piping (other than sprinkler system pipes).

  10. Remember: for every degree you lower your thermostat, you’ll save 1-4 percent on your heating bill. Instead of turning up the heat, bundle up in a sweater or blanket. Never set it below 62 degrees or you might risk freezing your pipes.

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