Before they dig out the holiday lights and unfurl the wrapping paper, homeowners should undertake measures to prepare their property for winter.

The season brings both a need to clear out the last vestiges of fall outside and to get ready for the changes colder temperatures brings.

What to do outside

Matt Groll, who works with landscape maintenance for Breezy Hill Nursery in Salem, said outside preparation can include everything from clearing leaves to cutting down plants.

Groll said homeowners typically cut down all perennial flowers before winter sets in, but some people let heartier varieties like black-eyed Susans go through the season. Groll suggests leaving the grass a little bit longer heading into the winter.

“If you keep it longer, you’ll fight off a lot of diseases in the spring time,” Groll said.

Some people don’t like the look of longer blades of grass poking through snow or the potential for voles or other small animals to seek shelter in that grass, Groll said.

Tree branches that are growing near houses or windows also should be trimmed before cold weather prevents most outdoor work. Groll said homeowners who see branches creeping toward power lines should contact We Energies before taking any action.

Groll said cleaning leaves and other debris out of gutters and away from windowsills will pay dividends, such as avoiding ice dams.

“If you don’t clean it out, it’s going to look nasty,” Groll said.

Aerating and fertilizing soil in the fall also will provide a big boost to plants in the spring, Groll said.

Pulling out any irrigation systems before winter may seem obvious, but Groll said some homeowners forget that step and find themselves with icing problems. Likewise, all outdoor water faucets and garden hoses should be drained and shut off.

The fall also is a good time to seal driveways, wood decks and brick patios.

Indoor maintenance

The inside of a home also should get plenty of attention before winter arrives.

Experts with the Milwaukee chapter of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) suggest having a heating, ventilation and air conditioning professional inspect the heating system. Changing the filter, clearing blower blades and sealing leaks around air ducts also are recommended steps.

Chimneys and fireplaces should get a professional inspection before winter, too.

To keep heat inside, storm windows and doors should be installed, replacing screens. Weather-stripping, caulking and installing plastic window shields also can help.

Fall is a good time to check other home features. Recommendations from NARI include replacing damaged roof tiles, checking siding for damage and sealing entry points and cracks in the foundation.

Safety first

Indoor and outdoor maintenance are important, but they pale in comparison with home safety.

Kenosha Fire Battalion Chief Matt Haerter said colder temperatures bring an increase in carbon monoxide alarms being set off and, sometimes, dangerous levels of that gas. Haerter said these concerns usually are caused by something blocking chimneys or other exhaust systems.

“Usually it’s a nest in a chimney or a dead animal or something in the exhaust of a high-efficiency furnace,” Haerter said. “Newer furnaces will shut down and not give people heat. Older models will expel carbon monoxide and make people ill.”

Haerter suggested having professional inspections before winter to help prevent these risks. Homeowners also can clear dryer vents from snow outside their homes and clean the outside lint trap monthly.

“The prevention will come at a far cheaper cost and also prevent people from being sick,” Haerter said. “It will save lives and money.”

Winter also can mean trying to use alternate methods of heating and lighting, which Haerter said can have dangerous results.

“If you’re not using a furnace, a correctly installed fireplace or something not normal to heat a residence, it’s not safe,” Haerter said. “Heating a house with an oven or burning something in the bathtub is not safe.”

Using generators or letting cars and equipment with gas engines warm up in garages or other enclosed spaces also is very dangerous and potentially deadly, Haerter said.

People whose electricity is shut off also sometimes turn to camp stoves or candles for light, or they try to steal electricity from neighbors.

“There is absolutely nothing good that can come from that,” Haerter said. “It’s just not worth it.”

Haerter said residents in need of electrical help can contact the Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program at 262-657-2170.