If you live in a cold weather climate it is time to winterize your home to prevent problems and preserve the value of your property. Winterizing your home means to perform a little preventive maintenance to prevent freeze up of water pipes and other damages caused by the severe winter weather. A little proactive maintenance can save you a lot of money on repairs in the spring. Here are a few DIY suggestions to get ready for winter.

Clean the gutters:

When leaves and other debris accumulate in the gutters, winter snow and ice can back up and cause water to spill over the sides of the gutters, damaging the siding and contribute to basement water leakage. Melting snow and ice can back up into the eaves and under shingles where it can lead to roof rot and infestations of wood-destroying insects.

Think twice before installing gutter screens. Gutter screens and covers marketed to keep leaves out of your gutters do not have a good track record. Most aren’t very effective and may actually worsen problems. The most reliable method is to keep your gutters clean the old fashion way by reaching into them and scooping out the trash and muck.

Service your HVAC system:

If you have a central air conditioning system have a HVAC professional to tune it up before the cold weather arrives. Insure the technician changes the filters, lubricate any moving parts. You can remove any debris from around the condenser yourself. This is especially important if you use a heat pump for heating.

Protect outdoor spigots from freezing:

Remove the garden hose from your outdoor spigots to prevent freezing. Water will freeze in the hose causing damage to the spigots. Close any shut off valves that feed the outdoor spigots, and then open the spigots and leave them open.

Seal and paint outdoor structures:

Treat all unpainted exterior wood with a wood preservative sealer or stain. Apply sealer or stain at least every other year. Choose a sealer that is a good water repellent. Paint any chipped or deteriorate painted surface to protect from further deterioration.

Seal asphalt driveways and walkways:

Blacktop needs to be protected from damage from the snow and ice as well as the sun and chemicals that leak from vehicles. You can apply a coal-tar-based sealant as a DIY project in a few hours.

Check the irrigation system:

Turn off the irrigation system to prevent system freeze up.

Prepare snow removal equipment:

Store the lawnmower, leaf blower, and other outdoor power equipment. Remove as much fuel from it as possible and store in a dry place. Service the snow blower and insure that is in good working order for the winter ahead.

Perform a foundation check:

Shrubs and other plantings that grow too close to the house may become damaged from snow and ice coming off the roof. Install protection shields if necessary such as wrapping them in burlap. Remove any leaves and debris to ensure that melted snow and rainwater runs away from the foundation.

Store firewood:

If you have a fireplace or a woodstove, store the firewood where it will keep dry and be convenient for hauling into the house. No one enjoys trudging through the snow to haul in fire wood in freezing weather.

Now that you have winterized your home you are ready for the long cold winter and can be assured that your home will not incur any damage from the winter weather.

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