Get your home freeze- and downpour-ready

Here's a "Hello, fall!" fast fact: Our neighbors in Bend, Ore., and Cle Elum, Wash., are expecting their first-of-the-season freeze in just a couple of weeks. That means the rest of us aren't far behind! (Find dates for your Washington and Oregon town here.)

With a change of seasons on the way, these five tips can help you ensure your home is ready before cold or wet weather moves in.

1. Disconnect your garden hose and protect the faucet with a foam cover. If it has an indoor valve, turn it off and open the faucet to drain any trapped water.
2. Clean gutters so clogs won't cause water to seep back into the roof (causing leaks) or overflow near the foundation, causing leaks and settling. Check out the video for safety tips.
3. Clear debris out of drains at the bottom of driveways and exterior stairwells. (Keep checking until your neighborhood trees have fully shed their leaves.)
4. Wrap pipes in unheated spaces (think garages and workshops).
5. Get your furnace serviced and chimneys professionally cleaned before the heating season kicks into high gear.

Watch for more Defender of Your Northwest tips next month for your car and boat.