As winter approaches, it’s important to make sure a home is ready for the colder months ahead.  Avoid these potentially costly mistakes.

Not protecting the outdoor faucet.  It’ll cost about $2 to buy a protector for an outdoor faucet, and that small investment could save owners up to $15,000 in potential damages. Frozen water can cause a lot of damage, and an outdoor faucet is particularly susceptible to freezing temperatures. Remove the garden hose from the outdoor faucet, drain it, and add a faucet protector, which will prevent cold air from entering the pipes.

Not removing icicles immediately.  Icicles hanging from the edge of a home is a sign of an ice dam, a buildup of ice in a gutter or roof that is preventing snow and ice from melting and draining through the gutters. Those ice blocks, left untouched, can lead to pricey roof repairs. Also, for homes more prone to them, it may be a sign of not enough insulation in the attic.  Tip:  A roof rake is a great tool for removing heavy snow from above the gutter area.

Skipping gutter cleanups.  When it rains, water pouring from gutters like a waterfall is a sign of trouble. That water can pile up on a foundation and cause damage. Clean the gutters a few times each fall to prevent clogs.

Letting cold air get inside.  This can be a costly mistake to heating bills. Sealing cracks with caulk can easily be done and will keep the cooler air out. HouseLogic suggests looking for visible cracks around window sills, baseboards, and dryer vents.

Not getting your furnace checked.  Forget to service your furnace and you could easily cut five years off the life of your system.  And those are costly – New units are around $2000 to $4,000 installed. Also, don’t forget to replace furnace filters, which has been linked with trimming potentially 15 percent off your energy bill.