Wintry weather is great at turning up problems you didn't even know you had.

That first rainy night in front of your fireplace that you thought was pure delight - until you noticed a leak in the ceiling corner, which was apparently caused by a lack of insulation.  How were you suppose to know that?

Five proactive activities to avoid costly wintertime mistakes.

Here's what to do

#1 Clean Your Gutters

The cost if you don’t:: You really don’t want to be in a position to find out

It can be so tempting to skip gutter cleanups as winter nears. It seems like as soon as you clear your gutters, they clog right back up again. So what’s the point?

Well, if it looks like you’re living inside a waterfall when it rains, water is missing your gutter system completely. It’s being directed to your foundation instead. And a water-damaged foundation is never, ever cheap to fix.

A contractor can plug foundation cracks for $1,500 to $3,000.  But a worse problem, one that requires a foundation excavation or rebuild, can set you back (gulp) $30,000 or more.

Suddenly, cleaning your gutters a few times each fall doesn’t seem so bad. A pro can do the work for anywhere between $70 and $250, depending on the size of your gutter system.

#2 Seal up Leaks

The cost if you don’t: Nights where you never feel warm, despite sky-high heating bills

On average, if it were possible to take every crack on the outside of a typical home and drag them together, you’d have the equivalent of a three-by-three window open all the time...

Yet cracks can be easily and inexpensively sealed with a simple tube of caulk, and it’s available in hundreds of colors to match your window panes, outside siding, and even brick. Not sure where to caulk? Look for visible cracks around:

• Window sills

• Baseboards

• Fireplace or dryer vents

• Anywhere something inside pokes a hole to the outside

#3 Program your Thermostat

The cost if you don’t: Money you could spend on something else besides heating

We all know we should, but we seem to have some mental block when it comes to programming our thermostats to align with our schedules. Now is easier than ever before, and sometimes all it takes is buying a new one that suits you. (Like maybe a Wi-Fi one that’ll give you a little money-saving thrill each time you swipe your app.)

You can save as much as 10% off your energy bill, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

#4 Get a Furnace Tune-Up

The cost if you don’t: A furnace that’ll die years before it should — and higher energy bills

Not servicing your furnace could easily cut five years off the life of your system, a third of the typical life of your system.  New units can cost around $4,000 installed, making the $125 annual maintenance charge a no-brainer.

While you’re at it, don’t forget to replace the furnace filter, which cleans the air in your home, and also keeps your furnace coils cleaner, which can shave up to 15% off your energy bill. Johnson suggests at least every three months, but possibly as often as monthly if you have allergies or pets, at home.

#5 Get a Fireplace Inspection

The cost if you don’t: Possibly your life — and your home

Enjoying a crackling fire is amazing, but if your chimney is not maintained, a fire can end up costing you thousands of dollars, not to mention the risk to you and your family.

Schedule your maintenance appointment as early as you can.  If you wait too long and you schedule in the busy season, you'll have a difficult time scheduling, you'll end up paying more and you'll get a lower quality job.