For many of us, this is truly “the most wonderful time of the year.” Wreaths adorn front doors, colorful lights hang from rooftops, elegant trees gleam in living room windows and familiar holiday music finds its way onto nearly every radio station. With the hustle and bustle of the holidays, it’s easy to forget about basic home chores that also need attention. As winter picks up momentum in Northeast Ohio, here are a few home maintenance and safety tips to help you enjoy a safe holiday season.

• Change detector batteries – The vast majority of the time, you’ll never hear or even think about your home’s smoke or carbon monoxide detectors. Unfortunately, this often means the batteries in those devices may run out and not get replaced immediately. Take this opportunity to make sure the batteries in these potentially life-saving devices are working, and replace the ones that haven’t been replaced recently.
• Clean or replace the furnace filter – Another oft-overlooked safety feature, the furnace filter sifts out hair, dust and other unwanted pollutants from the air entering the furnace, keeping the air in your home clean. Take some time to clean or replace your furnace filter, and make a schedule for future checks throughout the year.
• Drain exterior plumbing – No one wants a burst pipe in the middle of winter. Walk the exterior of your home and locate all outside spigots, disconnecting any attached hoses. Next, go inside and close the water shutoff valve for each (often located near the ceiling of the basement). Finally, go back outside and drain any remaining water from the now shut-off spigot.
• Check walkways, stairs and railings – Slips and falls are a common cause of injury during the winter. Take a stroll around your home, looking for any obstacles, loose railings, uneven surfaces or other potential dangers that may cause you or a loved one to slip and fall on walkways and stairs.
• Prepare your vehicle – Keep an ice scraper in your car to clear windows after a heavy snowfall; check the pressure in your tires and inflate if necessary, as air naturally contracts in colder temperatures; and prepare a winter emergency kit that includes a blanket, food and water, booster cables, flares, a basic first aid kit and a flashlight. You may also want to keep sand, salt or kitty litter in the vehicle to use for traction under the tires if you get stuck.