Many of us are feeling the impact of the wintry conditions, but your home can also take a brutal hit.

"There are preventative measures you can take," says Louis Smith, L.C Smith Heating & Plumbing owner. "It just saves them money in the long run."

Smith says he sees his fair share of winter damage.

"When the weather starts turning bad, normally it takes a day or so before pipes and all start to freeze," says Smith. "A lot depends on our wind factors, and a lot of it comes off the river."

But to avoid this, Smith says preparation is key.

Heating costs and water damage can throw a wrench into your winter budget, but you can limit the losses by addressing the gaps and cracks ahead of time.

"Being preventative especially with snowfall, with having the right equipment ahead of time," says April Stewart-Fryman, State Farm Agent. "You can have a very costly situation that you would still need to pay a thousand, two thousand dollars, before the insurance would kick in. So, do you have an emergency fund as well to make sure that if a loss does occur, you have the proper funds to protect minor damages too."

Homeowners can also add attic insulation, leave sink cabinets open so the pipes can stay warm, clean furnace filters, and leave faucets on.

Just simple steps to help you avoid the headache and the hassle.