Drain the Pipes
Water freezes when it expands, which can cause your water pipes to crack or burst. Drain any water from your outside faucet and sprinkler system. Drain and store your hose. Cover your outside faucets with insulators. In fact, make sure pipes that go through unheated areas like attics and garages are insulated as well.
Additionally, leaving the cabinets open below the sink is another great way to allow heat in around pipes.
Heat Check
Your heater will be working extra hard in the winter. Make sure that dust and animal fur is not clogging up your filters. You can reverse the direction of your fans with the flip of a switch, making them go clockwise to help circulate the warm air. If you plan on using your fireplace, have a cleaner come out to make sure it’s not stopped up with soot or critters. If you don’t plan to use the fireplace, make sure to close your flue all the way to keep heat inside the house.
Gutters, Windows, and Doors
Failure to clean your gutters may lead to ice dams, which can melt and cause water damage. It would also help to make sure any offsite vents are clear. Look for any places your house might leak heat and seal those too. On that note, make sure to check the seals around your windows and doors. To help keep heat in, you can caulk your windows and add weather stripping to your doors.
Information retrieved from:
Mantle Realty (n.d.). Preparing your homes for cold weather. https://mantlerealty.com/nc-homes-for-cold-weather/