Don’t let winter sneak up on you—especially if you’re a new homeowner. There are several chores and projects you should complete before fall quickly turns to winter. Unfortunately, if you don’t do some of these maintenance items and chores, it could be damaging to different areas of your new home. Don’t be an uneducated new homeowner—check out these mistakes new homeowners make in the winter to ensure you don’t make them.

Not Covering or Protecting Outdoor Faucets

You need to disconnect your outdoor water hoses, and you can’t forget to cover the spigot itself. By doing this, you prevent cold air from entering your home through the spigot. The more cold air you let in, the more you’re going to pay to keep your house heated.

In addition to covering the spigots themselves, make sure to wrap any of your exterior pipes with foam insulation. This protects against freezing.

Letting Icicles Hang from Your Gutters

It might not be fun to go out in the cold and knock down the icicles hanging from your gutters, but it’s necessary. To begin, you don’t want them falling and injuring somebody—they can be extremely sharp. In addition, when snow and ice build up in the gutter, it can cause a multitude of issues. Ultimately, when precipitation builds up and freezes, it blocks the water from draining off the roof, which can cause roof damage.

Storing Firewood Too Close to the House

Storing firewood right up against your home might sound like the best idea when you think about having to go outside and get it every single time you start a fire, but it’s most definitely not the way to go. Storing large amounts of firewood creates a cozy place for bugs and insects to live. You don’t want them to enter to your home, so the best thing to do is shake and inspect the wood before storing it away from the exterior walls of your home.

Not Properly Preparing Your Appliances

Making sure that all the appliances or household equipment you’re going to use throughout the winter are working properly is a must. For example, you’ll want to have a professional check out your furnace to ensure it’s safe and running right so that you can have heat when it starts getting chillier.

Being a new homeowner is so very exciting. Let that excitement last by educating yourself on what not to do. If you do that and avoid these mistakes new homeowners often make in the winter, your new home will be more enjoyable, and the excitement will last even longer.