When a blizzard hits, it can unload large amounts of ice and snow that can cause serious damage to your residence. To better prepare for a blizzard - or a bunch of them - take the following precautions

Prevent frozen pipes

Frozen pipes can make your entire house unusable and expensive to fix.

To avoid freezing pipes, protect outdoor plumbing fixtures by disconnecting any hoses, turning off outside water sources and insulating or covering all faucets.

It is recommended to open indoor faucets slightly to allow a steady drip of water, as the constant flow of water through the pipes can help prevent freezing or icing.

Protect your roof

Before a storm hits your city, experts recommend that homeowners inspect their roofs (safely from the ground) for missing shingles, deterioration and curling, all of which can make your home vulnerable to leaks.

Another way to protect your roof is to make sure your attic is evenly and adequately insulated.

Proper insulation can help prevent ice buildup.

As the outside temperature rises, the snow on your roof should melt slowly and naturally. However, improper insulation can allow warm air to escape through the attic and roof.

If warm air escapes through your attic, it can cause the snow to melt too quickly. Eventually, when the temperature drops below freezing again, the water will refreeze and form ice dams, which can cause damage to attics, ceilings and walls.

An ice dam is a wall of ice that forms along the edge of a roof when heavy snow on the roof melts during the day and then refreezes overnight.

Experts say it's worth calling in a professional to help seal your attic if it's not drafty before a storm hits.

Clean out gutters and downspouts

Gutters and downspouts should be cleaned regularly, but the key is to make sure they're free of debris before a big storm hits.

Clogged gutters can prevent ice and melting snow from leaving the roof surface. If there are leaves and debris in the gutters, melted water can build up in the gutter troughs and turn into ice.

Cleaning the gutters before a snowstorm also helps prevent ice dams from forming near the gutter downspouts.

More often than not, ice dams and clogged drains can cause water to leak into your home. Keeping your gutters free of debris will allow runoff to pass freely and avoid clogs.

Monitor your home's temperature

It's cold outside, but you want to keep the inside warm to protect your pipes from freezing and bursting.

When faced with cold temperatures and winter storms, it's critical to keep your home at a minimum of 65 degrees or higher.

If you will be away from home for an extended period of time, experts recommend setting your thermostat to a minimum of 50 degrees to prevent burst pipes.

You can also install a temperature sensor that will alert you when the temperature in your home drops below 41 degrees Fahrenheit.

Watch out for ice buildup

A little snow to build a snowman is nice, but a snowstorm covering your entire front door and porch is downright dangerous.

Ice can pile up outside your front door, creating a dangerous and slippery surface.

Make sure to stock up on rock salt, portable heaters and shovels, and keep a close eye on the level of snow on your porch to make sure you shovel when you need to.

Try to stay on top of snow removal so it doesn't have time to clump up and turn into ice.

For those who live in areas with heavy snowfall, Michetich recommends signing an annual snow removal contract where you can pay a fixed price. This will ensure guaranteed service every time it snows.

Cutting down dead branches

Trees can be your home's worst enemy during winter storms.

Prepare for any snowstorm by removing visible debris from trees that could cause damage to the exterior of your home or vehicle, such as dead or low hanging branches.

Pressure from Mother Nature can cause tree limbs to roll down and bring down power lines, disconnecting your home from emergency services.

The better prepared you are, the easier it will be to get your family and home through the winter unscathed.