Home Maintenance Checklist for the Winter

Whether you love the snow or dread it, it’s inevitably coming if you live in a colder climate.

To make winter more manageable, it’s crucial to prepare yourself and your home for the bitter cold, snow, and ice. To ensure problems don’t arise around the house, perform maintenance tasks before you get too deep into winter.

Here’s what you should do to maintain your house in the winter…

Check for Ice Dams

As we start to see more snow and ice, ice dams often form around the gutters and lower part of the roof.

Ice dams happen when the heat from the house melts the snow on the roof. As the snow melts, it pools up and gathers in the gutter. When the water freezes, it creates an ice dam and icicles.

Ice dams are a problem because they can wreck your gutters and lead to water damage. If the melting snow from your roof has nowhere else to go, it will start to seep in through the roof, leaving water damage that could potentially cause mold!

To avoid ice dams, it’s important to make sure your eaves are ventilated properly. Also, try adding insulation to your attic so the heat stays inside the house and doesn’t escape through the roof.

Check for Potential Flooding

While you may think flooding concerns can be put off until the spring, you’ll want to make sure your home is waterproof during the winter as well.

Why? Well, as we mentioned before, on warmer days of the winter the snow will start to melt. Just as it can gather on the roof, it will also gather around the house.

To ensure the snow doesn’t melt and leak in through the foundation, make sure the basement windows are protected. If windows are older, they may have cracks that allow water in. If you don’t want to take the time to replace the windows, add slanted covers over them to lead the water away from the windows.

These covers are inexpensive and fairly easy to install, so they’re a great alternative if you can’t replace the older windows!

Catch Up on Indoor Cleaning You Previously Put Off

When the sun’s shining and it’s warm out, it’s hard to find the motivation to stay inside and catch up on cleaning.

Because of this, winter is the perfect time to take care of those tasks you put off through the spring, summer, and fall! If you’re stuck inside anyway, why not be productive so you can enjoy the warmer months when they roll back around?

As the temperature drops and you start spending more evenings looking for ways to occupy your time, start chipping away at some of those rooms that have been left on the back burner. A common room for clutter to pile up is the basement.

For many of us, the basement is a “catch-all” for seasonal decor, old clothes, recycling, and other odds and ends. Winter is a great time to sort through the basement and get rid of some items that are no longer serving you while organizing everything.

Who knows, you may find some old things you thought you lost! When you’re all done with the basement, it’s time to tackle the closets and the garage.

Keep An Eye on Nearby Trees

As winter approaches, winter storms become more of a concern.

To prepare for winter storms, you’ll want to make sure that none of the trees on your property are at risk of falling. The last thing you want is for a tree to fall on your house or a power line!

So, how can you tell if a tree is in poor health and at risk of falling? Consider removing a tree if…

• You’re noticing fungus growth on the tree

• Bark is starting to chip or peel

• Cracks are forming in the trunk

• Branches are starting to die and break off

When you’ve decided it’s time to remove a tree, contact a tree removal company to have it taken care of. Don’t try to remove it yourself!

If you notice any trees in a neighbor’s yard that look like they may fall onto your property or a power line, consider talking to them about having them removed.

How Will You Maintain Your Home in the Winter?

With extreme weather, maintaining your home is the best way to protect it during a long, cold winter.

While it may seem like there’s a lot to do to prepare for winter, start by making a list and checking things off one by one. Before you know it, everything will be taken care of and you’ll be able to have some peace of mind!

If you’re selling a home this winter, reach out to us today to learn more about our real estate marketing services!