Winter preparation for your home is not difficult but you will need a game plan. The team at Feazel has created a walk-through of projects that you should complete in the late fall to ensure that your home is ready for the upcoming wintry blast.  

Exterior Winter Preparation Tips for Your Home  

We’ve all been there, rushing through a project to get ahead of the first snow of the winter or a big temperature drop. It is never fun! Feazel has put together a home maintenance to-do list to ensure that your home is buttoned up and safe. This way, you can kick your feet up with some hot chocolate and relax knowing the house is ready for winter.  

  1. Schedule a Roof Inspection Before Winter Hits  

Summer can be rough on roofs. Hail, wind, heat, and more can cause roof problems. Schedule a fall inspection to ensure that your roof is in tip-top condition. The inspection will look at the insulation in your attic and that is key to the prevention of ice dams in the winter.  

Remember, you do not want your attic too warm during the winter. If it gets too warm, the chances of ice dams forming are greater, amongst other problems.   

2. Remove All Debris from Your Gutters so Snow and Ice Melt Can Flow Freely   

Fall is the time of all the leaves dropping which can wreak havoc on your gutters. If they are clogged, water must go somewhere.   

The end result is water either goes over the edge, which can lead to basement flooding or extremely icy sidewalks. Or it will sit in the gutters.  

Eventually, temperatures will drop, and soon you will have a huge gutter-shaped ice cube that will continue to freeze. Your iced gutters may potentially push behind your gutters which can cause a leak down the walls of your home. Check out our guide to everything you need to know about cleaning your gutters.   

3. Give a Once Over to Your Siding  

Siding can develop dings, and dents, and be punctured during extreme weather events such as hail, intense winds, and more. These events can happen year-round but going into winter, it is a great idea to inspect your siding for any of these issues. Cracks, gaps, and rotten areas can lead to bigger problems if they start to get moisture inside.   

 4. Clean and Inspect Your Windows  

Windows keep the chilly air out of your home. Keep those heating bills under control by doing the following;   

  • Install storm doors and windows  

  • Clean and inspect windows   

Single pane or drafty windows? Window cling does an excellent job of keeping the cold at bay. It is always a great idea to buy it during the off-season to ensure there is not a rush at the home improvement store. 

5. How to Get Your Chimney Ready for Winter  

Feazel recommends getting ahead of the inspection process because if it needs repair, you may not be able to use it until those repairs are completed. Do not delay because once winter weather develops, your chimney may be unusable until the spring.   

Be sure to schedule a chimney inspection and cleaning (preferably before the fall, which is the busy season) with a reputable chimney cleaner. This will ensure that your chimney is in proper working order for the frigid winter. The cleaning should remove any soot, creosote, and potential blockages caused by animals, leaves, and debris.  

Feazel performs tuckpointing, capping, flashing repair, and waterproofing services. If you have liner or flue questions, they should be directed toward a chimney expert.  

6. Trim Tree Branches Back to Prevent Dropping Branches  

Trees are great, they provide shade and can help keep your home cooler during the summer. The catch is that trees continue to grow and any trees that are directly over your roof may drop branches during heavy wind, ice storms, winter storms, or any other extreme weather event. Ice in the trees weighs heavily on branches and causes them to sag. If you mix wind into the equation, branches can easily break.   

By trimming your tree branches, you are eliminating the off chance of a branch falling and breaking windows, puncturing your roof, denting gutters, damaging downspouts, or piercing siding.   

Are the trees too tall? Reach out to a reputable tree company and have them professionally removed. By choosing a reputable company, they will carry the appropriate insurance and licensure to ensure that your home, property, and belongings are kept safe.   

7. Hose Bibb is Important for Exterior Winter Preparation  

While plumbing is not our thing, this tip is a big one. Do not be the person going outside at 11 p.m. to disconnect your garden hose  in November ahead of a cold weather snap. Here is what you can do to be prepared;  

  • Turn off all hose bibb shut-off valves (if you have a shut-off)  

  • Disconnect your garden hose from the bibb  

  • Store the hoses in your garage or basement  

  • Let the water out of the outdoor faucet for the winter. This will clear the line and prevent it from freezing. *Only if you have a shut-off valve.  

  • Install a Styrofoam cover over your bibb if you do not have a shut-off valve  

Sitting water in your hose bibb can freeze and create water damage inside your home through a broken pipe or water leaks.   

Home Winter Preparation is a Must. Feazel Makes it Easy.  

Once you have completed your inspection checklist, bundle up and rest easy knowing that the exterior of your home is ready for the winter months ahead. Feazel is here to help in Columbus, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dayton, Indianapolis, and Raleigh. Our roofing, windows, siding, gutters, and masonry company have been helping homeowners for over 30 years. Contact us today for your next home inspection!