Winter home maintenance checklist

The US Fire Administration says to test alarms monthly and to replace a smoke alarm 10 years from its manufacture date.

CPSC warns never to use portable generators inside homes or garages, even with doors and windows open, because of carbon monoxide.

The US Fire Administration says to keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet from all heat sources.

Ready.gov's winter advice is to prepare for power outages and to install and test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors with battery backups.

The National Weather Service advises taking precautions to ensure water pipes do not freeze; moving water and warmer air are what keep them open.

If a pipe bursts, the minutes before the water is off decide how much of the house you lose.

Most freeze damage happens in an empty house, and many policies have conditions about homes left unoccupied.

A blocked exhaust vent can push combustion gases back inside, which is why CPSC wants a CO alarm on every level and outside the sleeping areas.

ENERGY STAR recommends inspecting, cleaning or changing air filters once a month in a central air conditioner, furnace or heat pump.

EPA advises drying damp materials within 24 to 48 hours and running the bathroom fan when showering, because winter condensation feeds mold on cold surfaces.

Ice dams force meltwater back under the shingles, and a snow-covered roof is the most dangerous place on the property.

Wet snow is far heavier than it looks, and flat and low-slope roofs carry it longest.

Clear access matters for you and for utility and emergency crews.

EPA says all homes should be tested for radon and that a result of 4 pCi/L or more should be fixed.