Now that fall weather is setting in, and the winter season is just around the corner, it is the best time to make sure that your home and car are ready for the dropping temperatures. Keep these simple maintenance tips in mind to prepare your car and home for the cold weather.

For your home:

• Clean out your rain gutters and downspouts. Backed up water can easily damage your roof and walls. Also, make sure the downspout is facing away from your home so water does not damage the foundation.
• Check the weather stripping around all your doors and windows. Replace any that is missing or damaged to ensure that cold weather does not creep into your warm house.
• Clean out your chimney and fireplace. Built up soot can easily start a fire and cause dangerous carbon monoxide to back up into your home. Keep the flue closed when you are not using the fireplace to prevent cold drafts.
• Hire a professional to check your furnace and do any regularly scheduled maintenance to ensure that you will stay warm all season long.

For your car:

• Check the tread and air pressure of your tires, even the spare. If the tread is low, make sure to invest in new tires to ensure that you will have enough traction on the slick, wet roads.
• Put an emergency cold weather kit in your car that contains water, blankets, first aid kit, flashlight, and extra clothes.
• Do not let your gas tank get below half full to ensure that the condensation in the gas tank does not cause damage.
• Make sure that your windshield wipers are working properly, and that the wiper fluid is full.

The changing season is also the best time to look over your homeowners and auto insurance policies to make sure you have the right amount of coverage. Contact Steve Wilk Insurance Agency in Lombard, Illinois for all of your auto and homeowners insurance needs.