With winter on our heels, now is the time to prepare our homes for snow, ice and dropping temperatures. You want your home to be as warm as possible, and the last thing anyone wants to deal with is bursting pipes or water damage. If you winterize your home now, you can spend the season with more time enjoying all it has to offer! It’s so important to prepare your home for the harsh winter elements. Take a look at four important steps to winterize your home!
1. Winterize Your Landscaping
Make sure your plants and trees are prepped for wintertime. Rake leaves off your lawn and remove any weeds so your grass isn’t competing for nutrients and water. Perennial garden beds should be cleaned up and mulched to keep your garden disease-resistant and well insulated.
Trim dead branches off trees as winter storms can weigh down branches with ice and snow. If the branches are dead, the extra weight may cause them to break off and damage whatever’s underneath. Once trees have dropped their leaves, and prior to the ground freezing, deeply water trees and shrubs to give them one final soak before winter arrives.
2. Clean Your Gutters
If you haven’t cleaned your gutters yet this year, make sure to take care of that before winter hits. It’s extremely important that water can flow freely through your gutters to prevent icicles and ice dams from forming. If your gutters are clogged, you risk your basement becoming filled with water, rotting fascia boards and cracked walkways or patios. Water damage is not ever something you want to have to deal with, especially when it’s freezing cold outside.
3. Disconnect Outdoor Hoses and Lines
Disconnect your outdoor hoses, as any water that’s left in garden hoses or other lines and pipes can freeze, causing damage. Make sure to shut off water spigots and water shut off valves to hoses. Turn off and drain sprinkler systems. Allow your hoses to drain completely and store them indoors or close to the house until spring.
4. Check for Gaps and Leaks
Before winter hits, make sure to inspect the exterior of your home, looking for gaps in the siding, specifically along window frames and doors. If you notice any gaps or cracks, make sure to fill them in with caulk to fix air leaks and potentially save money on energy bills. You should also inspect your roof to make sure it’s ready for a heavy snowfall. Consider having a professional take a look at it, and if they find any leaks or other damage, make sure to fix it before winter.
If you haven’t winterized your home, now is the time. Complete these necessary checks and tasks to ensure your home is as protected and comfortable as possible!