Preparations now mean safer, warmer winter

Now that cold weather and the first snows of the season have got your attention, how ready for winter are you?

We're all waiting for another nice day to put up the Christmas decorations, but besides that, there are some things we should do around our homes to save energy and improve safety through the cold months.

While you have the ladder out for hanging Christmas lights, take a few extra minutes to

* Clean the leaves and debris out of the gutters, to prevent ice from building up and allowing water to damage the roof.

* Close the interior shut-off valve of any exterior water faucets and drain remaining water from the exterior faucet itself. Disconnect any hoses and drain out any remaining water. Insulate exterior faucets and pipes to prevent freezing.

Back indoors:

* Chimneys used for wood burning stoves and fireplaces should be checked for creosote buildup. This tar-like substance can lead to a chimney fire if not cleaned out.

* Have a professional check your home heating system both for energy efficiency and carbon monoxide. Buy a carbon monoxide detector for any nearby living spaces and affix it near the ceiling.

* Never use a kerosene heater. If a space heater is needed, use only an enclosed heating element product with an approval label from an independent testing organization such as Underwriters Laboratories.

* Nearly half of a home's heat loss is through the roof. Make sure your attic has insulation with an R-value of at least 45.

* Weather strip windows and doors to maximize your heating efficiency.

The Response Insurance company has other homeowneer tips at its Web site: www.response.com/safety

A little extra effort will pay off in energy savings and extra safety through the coming winter months.