What should I do to get my house ready for a Maine winter?

The first truly cold week is when everyone in Maine finds out what's wrong with their house at the same time, and every heating tech, plumber and chimney sweep is booked solid. Here's what to do this week.

Heat: test it before you need it

• Turn the heat on now and make sure the whole house warms up. A dusty smell for a few minutes is normal.
• Change the furnace or heat pump filter.
• Check your oil or propane level and set up delivery before the first storm.
• Book a yearly cleaning for an oil or propane system if you can't remember the last one.
• Heat pump? Keep the outdoor unit raised and clear, with nothing that can slide off the roof onto it.

Chimney and wood stove

• Have the chimney swept and inspected before the burning season.
• Look up the flue with a flashlight for nests or debris, and make sure the damper opens and closes all the way.
• Stack dry, seasoned wood away from the house.

Outside water and pipes

• Unhook every garden hose. A hose left on holds water in the faucet, even a frost-free one.
• Close the inside shut-off for each outdoor faucet, then open the outside faucet to drain it.
• Find your main water shut-off and make sure it turns. If a pipe bursts, it's the first thing you'll need.
• Insulate pipes on outside walls and in unheated spaces like crawl spaces and garages.

Safety and power

• Test every smoke and carbon monoxide alarm, and put a CO alarm on every level and near the bedrooms.
• Have a plan for outages. Run a generator outside only, far from windows and doors, and never plug it into the house without a proper transfer switch.

When to call a pro now

• The heat doesn't come on, cycles off early, or makes new noises
• You smell fuel or exhaust, or a CO alarm goes off (get everyone outside and call 911 first)
• A shut-off valve won't turn or drips
• Warm outlets, flickering lights, or breakers that keep tripping

What's on your list?

What do you do every fall that isn't here? Share it in the comments.