Even though Old Man Winter hasn’t yet visited in Suffolk, now is a great time to ready your home for his arrival.

By taking the steps to prepare a house for the heating season, homeowners can save money and time when the worst of the winter arrives.

During the winter, it is important to keep heat in to keep the bills down, so checking ahead of time for air leaks allows for plenty of time to fix the problem.

Drafts from air leaks can waste 5 to 30 percent of the average American’s energy use during the year, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

Common places air leaks occur in houses include the attic hatch, wiring holes, plumbing vents, recessed lights, where the foundation meets the wood framing, and windows and doors.

Air leaks usually occur at places where two different building materials meet, so check corners, chimneys and the foundation.

To find leaks in windows, have someone on the outside of the house blow a hair dryer around each window while someone else holds a lighted candle inside. If the candle flickers or goes out, there’s a leak.

Caulk or weather-stripping can be used to seal gaps and air leaks. Installing storm windows and doors can also help out chilly drafts.

In addition to sealing air leaks, ensuring houses have the proper insulation is another way to save energy during the winter.

Adding more insulation between walls and making sure attic floors and basement ceilings are well-covered can make a big difference.

A quick way to figure out if you have enough insulation in your attic is to take a look across the span of the attic.

If the insulation is just level with or below the floor joists, you should add more. Make sure the insulation is evenly distributed.

Another thing to insulate before winter comes is pipes. It’s good to do it before the cold season because you avoid the risk of having the pipes freeze.

If pipes are warm to the touch, they are good for insulation. Most hardware stores sell pre-slit pipe foam that can be cut to size and fastened in place with duct tape.

When shopping for insulation, chose the product with the highest R-value practical, which is a measure of its heat-blocking power.

Before the cold comes, it’s also a great time to get heating systems tuned-up because many heating companies are backed up during the winter.

Just like a car needs a tune up to run efficiently, keeping heating systems clean, lubricated and properly adjusted helps reduce energy use.

Like heating, air conditioning units also should be readied for winter.

To winterize air conditioners and water lines, drain any hose and air conditioner pipes and make sure to get rid of excess water collected in the equipment.

If the unit has a shutoff valve, turn it off. Also, ensure any hoses are drained and stowed away and turn off exterior spigots.

Although it might cost right now, replacing faulty or inefficient equipment, such as water heaters, may pay off in the long run.

Also, there are a variety of tax credits offered to homeowners to help them install renewable energy and energy efficient projects.