IF YOU’RE A LONGTIME homeowner, it’s easy to overlook little problems that could become big, expensive ones down the road.

How can you keep up with upkeep without overspending? I asked some of the country’s top home professionals for guidance.

Nearly all the pros recommended three annual tasks: servicing heating and cooling systems, trimming trees so they don’t threaten your house and other property, and cleaning leaves out of gutters to prevent water damage. Here are more of their useful tips.

Angie Hicks, founder of Angi, which operates the Angi, HomeAdvisor and Handy websites

Maintenance tips: Start cutting energy costs by taking a lit candle around the house and holding it up near doors and windows to check for air leaks. Hicks says, “If it’s flickering, you need new stripping.”

Savings tips: When hiring a pro, ask for detailed cost breakdowns for labor and materials. Buy materials for a job ahead of time. Agree to pay up front only for materials; don’t pay in full for labor until the job is done.

Brian and Mika Kleinschmidt, hosts of HGTV’s 100 Day Dream Home

Maintenance tips: Don’t ignore peeling or fading exterior paint. “Paint is like sunscreen for your house,” Brian says. As paint ages, it can cause water to get behind stucco or damage wood siding. Check monthly for humidity around windows. “It can cause mold to grow,” Mika says. “Sometimes homeowners don’t realize it until it becomes an expensive repair.”

Savings tips: Don’t hire someone just because you have a coupon, Brian says. Instead, get quotes from three different professionals. “Cheaper is not always better,” he says. “If someone drops their price without much argument, I don’t know if that’s the person I would hire. Good people know their value.”

Danny Lipford, host of the long-running syndicated TV show Today’s Homeowner

Maintenance tips: Change your HVAC filters every three months; electrostatic ones can help your system run more efficiently and last longer. Trim trees and shrubs so they’re at least 1 foot away from your house to prevent insect infestations, mold and mildew. Replace smoke and carbon monoxide detectors at least every 10 years to avoid interference from accumulated dust and dirt.

Savings tips: When renting equipment such as pressure washers and paint sprayers, ask friends if they’d like to split the cost. “That way, a $100 price tag can go down to $25 pretty quickly,” Lipford says. When looking for a home pro, ask real estate agents and home builders associations in addition to friends and family. And always meet in person. Trust your gut, he says. If you don’t get a good feeling, move on.

Bonus tip: Your local chapter of Habitat for Humanity, the nonprofit community housing organization, may provide free home repairs and mobility-enhancing modifications to low-income older Americans. Reach out to see if you qualify. If the local chapter can’t help, ask if there are other community resources.