7 Winter Home Care Tips

Winter is just around the corner. It’s time to winterize your home and make sure it’s ready for the cold temperatures and snow. They can wreak havoc on your home if you don’t do the proper winter home maintenance tasks. 

Are you asking, what should I do to prepare my house for winter? We’ve got you covered! Below are our top winter home care tips to winterize your home and take care of it before and during the winter months.  

What Should I Do Before Winter?

There are several things you need to put on your to-do list to prepare your home for winter:

• Weatherproof your windows and doors. If you have gaps in your doors or windows that cause a draft, it can hike up your heating bills in the winter. A big question that homeowners ask is, how do I prepare my windows for winter? Ideally, you may want to replace your windows and doors if they are old and are very drafty. However, if that’s not an option for you, try sealing any gaps up with caulk or weatherstripping. 
• Prevent pipes from freezing. The best way to prevent this is to insulate pipes located in cold areas of your house. Also, leave faucets dripping just a bit to prevent freezing pipes. If a pipe does freeze, turn on the tap and let a warm heat source flow. Check all fixtures in the house to see if there any other frozen pipes.
• Clear the gutters. If your home’s gutters have debris in them, the snowmelt won’t be able to drain. Be sure to clean the gutters of leaves, sticks, and other debris.

What Should I Do During Winter?

• Check the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Do this every month in the winter, especially if you use your fireplace or a wood-burning stove.
• Prevent ice dams from forming. Ice dams can form on your roof if it’s cold enough, and they get in the way of snow from melting and draining off. So, you see how snow can damage a house—especially when melted snow water flows under your home’s shingles. To prevent ice dams, keep your roof at the same temperature by adding insulation and increasing ventilation. 
• Keep sidewalks and driveways cleared of ice and snow. Use a shovel or snowblower to keep paths snow and ice-free, and sprinkle ice melt or sand for traction on slippery areas.
• Check the trees. If you’ve got a lot of trees on your property, heavy snowfalls can make them prone to breakage. Brush snow off the limbs to help prevent any from breaking.

Get a Free Homeowners Insurance Quote

One more tip to protect your home this winter by getting the right insurance to fit your needs. If you’re shopping for homeowners insurance, you’ve come to the right place. InsureOne compares home insurance quotes from top companies to get you the coverage you need at an affordable price. Start your free home insurance quote today online, over the phone, or at one of our offices near you