It’s that wonderfully pleasant time of year in Colorado, and now that the air is filled with the scent of crisp leaves and pumpkin lattes, it’s also time to think ahead to what needs to be done to winterize your home.

Whether you live in an older home, or have recently moved into a newly built home, there are a few universal things that the majority of homeowners should do before settling in for the colder months. Here’s a checklist to help you on your way to a worry-free winter.

Winterize the Sprinklers

If you have an underground sprinkler system, don’t risk letting the system freeze or even burst in the cold. Here are some general guidelines on how to get your sprinkler system ready for winter:

• Turn off the underground sprinkler, and turn off the water.
• Shut off the controller—or timer—that regulates the sprinklers. If the controller is a “solid state” controller, which tends to use less electricity, consider leaving the controller in “rain mode,” so that you don’t need to reset the programming in spring.
• Remove and drainater from the backflow preventer.
• Remove water from the irrigation system’s risers (a wet/dry vacuum works!) and any above-the-ground valves should be drained of water, too.
• Lastly, remove all of the water from the system’s pipes and sprinklers, so that it doesn’t freeze and burst, by using drain valves or by conducting a system blow out with an air compressor.

Inspect Your Home for Air Leaks

There are plenty of places in every home that allow cold air to sneak in during the winter. Common areas where air seeps in include:

• Weather stripping around doors
• Vents and fans
• Fireplace dampers
• Window frames
• Cable TV lines
• Dryer vents

Locating and sealing these sources can help cut down on heating costs, as well as keep your family warmer this winter. If hiring a professional is not in your budget, there are DIY solutions available to you.

• Visual inspection – Can you see daylight shining through a door or window crack? Are cracks or gaps visible to the naked eye?
• Rattle test – If you can shake a door or window, there is probably an air leak.
• Pressurization test – On a very windy day, turn off combustion appliances and exhaust fans, and shut all windows and doors. Light a stick of incense and hold it near common sources of leaking air. If the smoke wavers, that is an indication that there is a leak.

Once you know where your leaks are, you will know where to start sealing and caulking your home.

Winterize the Swamp Cooler

In Colorado, many homes are equipped with swamp coolers, rather than air conditioning. Be sure to take care of your swamp cooler this winter so it’s ready to take care of you next summer.

• Safety first: turn off the power supply.
• Turn off the valve that supplies water to the swamp cooler.
• The water line must be drained to prevent it from freezing, so disconnect the water line at both ends: at the cooler and at the supply valve. Go to the highest end and blow into the water line to get the water to flow out.
• At the cooler: Hose out the pan with fresh water and completely clean out the dirt and minerals that have collected.
• Change the cooler pads now –rather than waiting until spring– which will help to prevent rusting throughout the winter.
• Put on the cooler cover! And, if you have one, close the damper to prevent cold air from sneaking inside.

Prepare Your Garden

Now that you have harvested all of your summer and fall produce, it’s time to put the garden to bed for the winter.

• Pull up old vines and vegetable plants, which will help to prevent insect pests that often lay eggs on the plants.
• Fertilize turf, so it will come back stronger in spring.
• Push healthy plants back into the soil—as well as compost and leaves—to add valuable nutrition to the soil.
• Mix a light amount of ammonium sulfate into the soil, about 8 inches beneath the surface.
• Root crops like carrots and beets can be mulched with straw to extend the season.
• Once a light frost arrives, take up the winter squash and pumpkins.

Whether you’re winterizing the inside or outside of your house, now is the time to act. Don’t wait for those first few cold nights or it could be too late. By taking these easy steps, you can enjoy the winter months, save money, and not have to worry about expensive repairs or costly installations of new household systems.