Winter Home Maintenance Checklist — Vista, California

Check that all rooms are heating evenly. Listen for unusual furnace sounds. Replace filter monthly during heavy use.

Keep your attic well-insulated and ventilated so the roof stays cold and snow melts evenly. Use a roof rake to remove snow from eaves before it can refreeze into ice dams.

Keep cabinet doors open under sinks on exterior walls, let faucets drip during extreme cold, and take other precautions to prevent pipes from freezing and bursting.

Replace batteries, test alarm function, replace units older than 10 years (smoke) or 7 years (CO).

On a cold windy day, feel around windows, doors, and outlets for cold air. Apply weatherstripping or caulk.

Shovel snow promptly, apply ice melt, and repair any tripping hazards. Check handrails on steps to keep your home safe and accessible all winter.

Research contractors, get estimates, and schedule spring work now -- the best contractors book early. Winter is the ideal time to plan, budget, and line up help for warmer-weather projects.