There are technically a couple weeks left of summer, but Albertans are experiencing an early start to winter today. Environment Canada expanded snowfall warnings across the province and Calgary is seeing near zero temperatures. Even though this cold spell may be short lived, Josh Orzech, Director of Direct Energy Home Services Alberta, offers some tips to help homeowners deal with the sudden drop in temperature and be prepared for fall and winter weather.

Switch to fall settings on your programmable thermostat. Make sure your thermostat schedule is set up for your fall/winter living patterns so the temperature is regulated to keep you warm when you’re home and not wasting gas while you’re away.

Cover up. Put the cover back on your air conditioner to protect it from dirt and snow. Make sure vulnerable plants are wrapped up or brought inside.

Seal it up. Check for air leaks around doors, windows and electrical outlets and use caulking or weather stripping to seal out the cold air. If you added up all the leaks in the average Canadian home it would be a hole the size of a basketball.

Check your carbon monoxide detector. Test carbon monoxide detectors to make sure they’re working by pushing the test button on each unit. Make sure detectors are installed in close proximity to sleeping areas and don’t install CO alarms near windows or vents, bathrooms, heating or fuel-burning appliances or smoke alarms (unless it’s a combination alarm).

Replace furnace filters. Filters should be replaced every three months to help your furnace run more efficiently. Clogged filters mean that furnace motors must work harder and use more energy, so make sure you have a clean one installed before turning on the furnace.