Many winter-related disasters can be prevented if you take steps to prepare for freezing temperatures, snow and wind.  It's the perfect time to winter-proof your home before the temperatures become frigid. 

Melting snow can cause significant damage to property.  Winter storms are the third-largest cause of catastrophe losses, according to the Insurance Information Institute, costing the average homeowner $5,896 in claims.

Here are some tips to prepare your home for the upcoming winter:

Outside Your Home:

• Clean out gutters. Remove leaves, sticks and other debris so melting snow and ice can flow freely.  This can prevent ice damming, which is where water is unable to drain through the gutters.  Instead, it seeps into the house causing water to drip from ceilings and walls.
• Install gutter guards.  These are available in most hardware and home stores and they prevent debris from entering the gutter and interfering with the flow of water.
• Trim trees and remove dead branches.  Ice, snow and wind can cause weak trees or branches to break and damage your home or car, or injure someone walking by your property.
• Repair steps and handrails. This may prevent someone from falling and being injured.
• Seal cracks in holes in outside walls and foundations.  Use caulking to protect water pipes and make sure that skylights and other roof openings have proper weather stripping so snow melt doesn't seep in.

Inside Your Home:

• Keep the house warm.  Set the thermostat for at least 65 degrees.
• Add extra insulation to attics, basements and crawl spaces. If too much heat escapes through the attic, it can cause snow or ice to melt on the roof. Water can then re-freeze, causing more buildup. Ideally, the attic should be five to ten degrees warmer than the outside air. Well-insulated basements and crawl spaces will also help protect pipes from freezing.
• Have the heating system serviced. Furnaces, boilers and chimneys should be serviced at least once a year to prevent fire and smoke damage.
• Check pipes. Look for cracks and leaks.  Wrap exposed pipes with heating tape.
• Install an emergency pressure release valve in your plumbing system.  This protects the system against increased pressure caused by freezing pipes.
• Make sure that smoke and fire alarms are working properly (residential fires increase in the winter). Click here to read requirements of the new City of Madison smoke alarm ordinance.
• Learn how to shut the water off and know where your pipes are located.  If your pipes freeze, the quicker you can shut off the water, the better chance you have to prevent the pipes from bursting.
• Hire a licensed contractor to look for structural damage. Ask about ways to prevent water damage due to snow-related flooding. 

If you are going to be away for an extended period, turn the water of and/or have the water system drained by a professional to keep pipes from freezing or bursting.  Hire someone to check your home on a regular basis. This lessens damage if there is a problem and activity in your home will reduce the chances that your home will be burglarized.

Information from the Insurance Information Institute.