As Louisiana's colder months approach at last, prepare your home for the worst of the winter freezes to come.

Avoid drafts from windows and doors with weather stripping.

There are many different types of weather stripping available to seal up a drafty window or door. You can also block the cold using caulk in the gaps where weather stripping wouldn't be the best option. This will make sure your home stays warm and lowers electricity bills. 

Clean and prepare your fireplace before its first winter use. 

Cleaning and checking your fireplace after its summer hiatus is vital for safety and is another important step in preparing your home for winter. Make sure there are not animal nests or debris build up which can be fire hazards. Also be sure and clean out any accumulated ash from the firebox that was left from the previous year.

Remove fall leaves and debris that have accumulated in your gutters.

During the autumn months, gutters will have gathered leaves, sticks, acorns and other yard debris. An important step in preparing your house for winter is removing that build up so that it doesn't spend the winter blocking and decomposing in your gutters which will make it more difficult to clean as the winter progresses. 

Keep your plants healthy for next spring and summer. 

Bring your potted plants inside before the first cold snap. If they've been outside for the few we've already had this winter, it may not bee too late! With this year's mild winter, some hardier plants will still be healthy. But as our few colder months approach, now is the time to do so. For garden beds, cover the base of all the plants in pine straw. This will protect them from the freeze as much as possible. 

Bring in the comforts of your outdoor living spaces.

Items such as grills and patio furniture should be covered or stored in an indoor space such as a shed. Louisiana winters don't require this all winter long - and they might even be used on the milder days! But to prolong the life of these items, it's best to have a protected space or covering for any freezes that may occur during the winter.

Cover your pipes to avoid freezing. 

Something as simple as a towel around your outdoor hose bibb can protect your pipes from the worst of the winter freezes. But you can also go a step further by using pipe wraps and insulation fittings. These products are meant specifically for this use and will be more effective than a simple towel.