Protecting your home from the winter months is vital. A winter storm or other severe weather conditions can cause real damage to your property. That's why it's very important to prepare your home for the next 4-5 months of snow, ice, and freezing temperatures.
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Disconnect and drain all outside hoses, if possible, shut off outside water valves, to prevent hoses from breaking or even worse a busted spigot.
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Remove dead or damaged tree branches that would get weighed down with ice or snow and fall on your house - or your neighbor’s.
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During cold spells, keep cabinet doors open to allow warm air to circulate around pipes, specifically those in the kitchen and bathrooms.
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Double check downspouts and gutters for leaf build up to ensure melted snow or ice leaves your roof fast and easy.
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Inspect your roof for maintenance issues and regularly check for ice dams (signs of icicles and large chunks of ice near the edge of your roof). Water melting off the roof pools behind the ice and then seeps back up under the roof, soaking interior walls.
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Seal driveway cracks, the cold causes the water to freeze and expand in the cracks, leaving them more damaged in the spring.
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Clear snow or ice away from outdoor vents - such as your furnace or dryer vents - blocked vents can cause carbon monoxide to build up.
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Clean your chimney, this will ensure that there is no buildup of harmful creosote or debris such as leaves or bird nests.
