For homeowners who live in climates where the seasons change, autumn is the time to start thinking about weatherizing one's home for winter. For those new to home ownership, who have been living in an apartment until recently, this may seem like an entirely foreign process. In reality, the steps to take to get your home ready for the Winter are fairly straight forward and easy to do, so fear not. The primary reason to 'winterize' a home is to make sure that your house is not overly exposed to the elements and, most notably, to make your home as energy efficient as possible during the cold months. By following some of these simple steps, you can ensure that your home is ready to endure the winter, and be secure in the knowledge that you've done all you can to keep your investment in top shape. Don't Let Your Roof Go The roof is the most exposed part of your house, so if there are any shingles that are loose, or any obvious problems, make sure to get them fixed right away. For most homeowners, any roofing work is best left to professionals, so if there are loose shingles that may allow winter rain or snow to damage your home's roofing deck and rafters, have a roofing professional come in to have a look. On a related note, if you have a functioning chimney, the time prior to winter is a good time to have it swept of debris and soot so you can enjoy a nice, warm fire during the cold months. A Little Bit of Caulk Goes a Long Way Caulking windows and doors is an easy, inexpensive way to cut down on energy consumption. Use the highest quality caulking you can find―typically silicon-based caulks for exterior use―and make sure that there are no gaps around windows and doors. Keeping a little bit of air out in a lot of places really adds us. Outdoor Furniture is Best Left Indoors in Winter It may seem obvious, but homeowners will typically leave wooden and plastic outdoor furniture outside throughout winter. That's fine if you intend to use it during the colder months, but if you don't, taking it into the garage can save you some money or a spring project that involves lots of sandpaper and furniture oil. Put the Hose Away There's nothing worse than having pipes and plumbing fixtures burst because of freezing water. The best thing to do with exterior hoses is to remove them, put them in storage, and then turn the water to the hose off at the source. Thereafter, leave the outside spigot open to avoid water collecting and freezing. If there is no interior shut off, don't worry about it, but you may consider adding one in the future. Use Door Sweeps In addition to gaps around doors, the bottom of the door should use a 'sweep' of some sort to keep air from coming in from under the door. These are relatively easy to install, and lately some simple products that slide onto the bottom of the door can be added to keep doors even more airtight.