Ready for Winter? Don’t Skip These 4 Home Maintenance Tasks

If you own a home in a region of serious winters, where driving gets hazardous and pipes freeze, it’s important to plan ahead and have supplies ready. Doing so could save you time and money, and prevent you from spending the cozy season making serious home repairs. (It's also important to have a good home insurance policy). Here are four potential crisis points to keep on your radar. 

1. Roof

Clean your gutters regularly and replace worn shingles, which can lead to water leaks. Without proper drainage, snow and melted ice have a tendency to seep down into ceilings and walls. In cases of heavy accumulation on your roof, waiting for ice or snow to melt may not be the safest way to go. If you need to clear your roof quickly, use a long-handled snow rake or hire a professional snow removal service.

2. Pipes

Frozen pipes can lead to expensive repair bills. To help keep the water flowing, set your thermostat at 68 degrees or above, and let faucets trickle overnight when temperatures dip below freezing. Water pipes on the outside of your home should be insulated.

3. Trees

High winds, ice, and sleet can send branches — or entire trees — crashing down. Always trim limbs that overhang or touch your house. Regular checkups by an arborist can help identify trees that may need serious pruning or even removal.

4. Walkways

Keep the walkways to your home, along with the surrounding sidewalk, shoveled and salted. If someone slips on the ice on your property, you could face liability. Or a very unhappy dinner guest.