Service heating/cooling units: Don't wait until it's cold
Wrap up pipes: Check crawl spaces, garages or wherever pipes might be exposed to cold air and wrap them with pipe insulation and tape.
Wrap the water heater: Put a specially made insulated blanket around your water heater to save energy.
Get in the Gutter: Clean out gutters after all the leaves have fallen to make sure they don't clog drainage or rot during winter and cause rust. It doesn't hurt to look at your roof while you are up there to check for damage.
Check the chimney: Creosote-burning logs and powders are available, and flues should be working. A professional chimney-cleaning may be needed.
Shrink-wrap windows: If you have a drafty window, use a shrink film window kit that seals all four corners, using a blow dryer. This is an inexpensive way to cut down on drafts.
Caulk it: Inspect windows outdoors for cracked caulking or missing beads and replace where needed.
Close up door leaks: Examine weather-stripping and door sweeps at thresholds and elsewhere around doorways for air infiltration. Replace weather-stripping and fitting that is cracked, dry, etc.
Clean humidifiers: Clean the whole-house humidifier before turning it on for the heating season and make sure to replace those humidifier filters as directed.
Install new batteries in smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms.
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