As the leaves change and the days get shorter, take the time this autumn to get your home ready for winter. A few easy steps might help prevent some surprise repairs during an inconvenient time of year. #GoodNeighbor • Change the air filter in your furnace and replace monthly during the winter. • Make an appointment for an HVAC technician to test your furnace and give the system a tune up. • Consider buying a programmable thermostat to help lower your energy costs. • Check your windows and doors for leaks that may compromise your heating efficiency. • Inspect washing machine water supply lines monthly, looking for blisters, worn tubing, cracks or loose connections. It's best to replace supply hoses every 3-5 years. • If you'll be using a fireplace or woodstove, call a chimney sweep for an inspection and cleaning. • Take a moment to review fire safety in your home. Check fire extinguishers and replace them if necessary, and change the batteries in your smoke detectors. Also review your home fire evacuation plan with your family. • Clean out your gutters regularly. This can prevent overflowing water in the fall and ice buildup in the winter. • Trim bushes and trees to keep them in good shape - using the right tools and a ladder, if needed. • Disconnect garden hoses and, if practical, use an indoor valve to shut off and drain water from pipes leading to outside faucets. This reduces the chance of the pipes freezing in the section of pipe just inside the house. • Empty out unused fuel or add a gasoline stabilizing additive to gas-powered equipment stored in the garage. Store gasoline in tanks out of children's reach. • If you have a generator, give it a test run to see if it's in good working order. Make sure you never run the generator in an enclosed space — like your garage — as it will present a carbon monoxide hazard. • Inspect your roof. If any shingles are curling, buckling or cracking, replace them. If there is extensive damage, you might consider re-roofing with impact resistant shingles. Check flashing around skylights, pipes and chimneys to prevent snow and ice from creeping in.