Winter Home Maintenance – Get Your Home Ready Before The First Frost

The winter months can be really tough on your home and yard.  The key to saving money on repairs or wasteful electrical bills is to take care of problems before they occur.  Winter is a prime time for general household degradation, as the extreme elements are prone to causing damage. Here are some ideas on how to help your house weather the winter storm.

Get Your Roofing Ready

There are several things that need to be done on the roof of your house before the first snow.  First of all, the gutters need to be cleaned.  Gutters accumulate debris such as fallen leaves, and if they aren’t cleaned out completely before the first snow, this debris can cause problems.  Once you’ve had your first snowfall, the melting snow will not be able to drain through the gutters, and this means it will stay there damaging the roof and possibly leaking through.  It’s a wise idea to always keep your gutters cleared out, but once the first snow hits, the debris becomes impacted and it’s very difficult to remove.

This is also a good time to check your roof for damage and make repairs before the first snow.  If you have a shingle roof, look for missing or damaged shingles, especially in areas that have high foot traffic or where downspouts empty from upper roof areas.  Also, check the flashing, especially around pipes and valleys as this thin waterproofing material is the last line of defense to stop water from seeping in.

Make Sure The House Is Ready

Before it gets cold and you need to use it, have your heating system inspected by a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning professional.  They’ll tell you if there are any repairs that need to be made to prepare for the colder months.  You should also consider changing your furnace filter.  A dusty filter makes the system work harder during the winter, which results in less heat and a higher electrical bill.  Lastly, test your thermostat to make sure it’s returning accurate readings.

Check For Air Leaks

Look around your windows and check caulk and weather stripping.  You can’t always see leaks, so run your hand around the window’s edges.  If you can feel cool air coming in, chances are you’ve got a leak.  You can also pass a cigarette lighter around the window and see if the fire moves.  If there is a leak, you can either caulk it yourself or use a plastic sealing kit.

Check The Insulation

Check to see if you feel drafts coming through the insulation.  Also check pipes that are exposed to the elements such as those in crawlspaces, attics and basements.  Basically, inspect the pipes that are in a part of the house where it is likely to be colder than the temperature inside.  Wherever they are exposed, cover them with foam insulation to keep them from freezing.

Getting Ready For Winter Outside

If you have outdoor furniture, it’s best to bring it indoors and store in either the garage or storage shed.  If this is not possible, clean everything and cover it up to keep the snow off.  Make sure that, although covered, there is some air flowing under the covering to prevent mold and mildew.

Do these things in the fall months of September or October for the Northern Hemisphere, or earlier if you live in an especially cold climate.  Try to get them done before the first frost comes, and they’ll be much easier.  Proper winter maintenance goes a long way in preventing further home expenses.