Winterize Your House: The Ultimate Guide

Winter does not just open the door to building a snowman or planning a ski weekend. It also brings an endless supply of fresh snow, ice and freezing temperatures. If your house is not prepared before the calendar changes, it can lead to a host of home repairs and create a strain on your budget.

You can take a few simple steps inside and outside your house to help it survive winter weather:

1. Clean rain gutters

Leaves and other debris can clog your rain gutters during the autumn months. Snow and water can get trapped behind this debris and turn into an ice dam. This will cause water to seep in through your roof and create damage through moisture buildup on walls and ceilings. Clear the gutters once the leaves have fallen and redirect downspouts so that water flows out at least 10 feet from your house’s foundation.

2.Seal air leaks

There are so many areas where outside air can sneak in and raise your heating bills. Take time to go through and seal off air leaks throughout your house. Install energy efficient storm doors and windows that hold in more heat. Put down weather stripping across the bottom of the doorway in each room to prevent drafts underneath the door when it is closed. Seal baseboards and caulk windows.

3.Add insulation

Bare water pipes are prone to freezing at colder temperatures. This can cause major damage to pipes, including making the pipes burst. For exposed pipes that run through crawlspaces, basements or garages, wrapping them is the best option for protection. You can use foam rubber sleeves or fiberglass insulation to wrap around the pipes. Wrap rubber or fiberglass around the water heater to keep heat from escaping.

4. Shut off outside water

Turn off all faucets and drain all garden hoses outside the house. Freezing outside temperatures can damage hoses and water pipes. Once the hoses are drained, roll them up and store them in a cool, dry place where they won’t get kinked, cracked or broken. Remember to also patch any leaks you may find outside the house with weather-resistant caulk to prevent water from seeping inside.

5. Check the furnace

Give your furnace a test run before the winter to see if everything is in working order. Get your furnace inspected and tuned by a professional. They can check for gas leaks or any other problems that might affect your furnace. Stock up on filters so you can change them out during the winter months. A dirty filter can inhibit air flow, reduce efficiency or lead to a fire.