Here are some tips on preparing you home for winter weather

With temperatures cooling, and forecast to reach the 30s in the evenings this week, homeowners should take steps to prepare their property for winter weather, allowing them to avoid potential property damage if temperatures continue to drop.

Washington County Emergency Management Director Kary Cox said these precautionary steps should include routine maintenance on fireplaces, HVAC systems and rain gutters to prevent fires.

“We typically see an uptick in structure fires this time of year,” Cox said.

Central air systems and chimneys especially should be professionally inspected and cleaned, if needed, as they are commonly connected to house fires. Clogged rain gutters can feed an existing fire, helping it spread to the roof.

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Those who use additional heat sources, like space heaters, should be sure to plug them directly into an outlet, not into an extension cord, and keep them in an open space — away from furniture, drapes or other things that could catch on fire.

Homeowners should also disconnect hoses from outdoor faucets and cover the faucets with an insulated cover.

“If those freeze they can burst inside the wall and flood your home,” Cox said.

He recommended individuals drain outdoor hoses and store them in a dry place so if they are needed in the case of a fire, they will not be frozen.

Additionally, Cox recommended homeowners identify large tree branches hanging over parts of the house, driveway or near power lines that, if weighed down by ice or snow, could fall and cause damage.

Cutting back those branches before the weather turns to ice and snow will help avoid property damage.

This article originally appeared on Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise: Tips offered to prepare homes for winter weather