Winter is a tempting time to try and put aside things like home maintenance and make it through the cold. This has a few drawbacks, unfortunately. Maintaining your home during the frigid chill of winter might be a little more difficult, but some things still need to get done. A burst pipe or roof leak isn’t going to wait until spring to need fixing. To keep you on top of things, here are a few tips for regular winter home maintenance.
Ensure You Have an Emergency Stash
Winter is both the worst and the most frequent time for something to happen to your home. Storms and heavy snowfall can quickly put your home in a position without power for a long time. You’ll want to keep and maintain an emergency stash of items that will get you through this time. Some basics to include are:
- – Long shelf-life food
- – Bottles of water
- – Flashlight
- – Batteries
- – First-aid kit
Keep an Eye Out for Ice Dams
Ice dams on your roof are some of the most annoying problems you can deal with in the winter. They’re hard to remove and can cause leaks in your home. The best way to deal with them is to stay ahead of them. Your gutters are crucial for this, as any debris that built up inside can very quickly lead to an ice dam. Make sure you clean your gutters regularly and check on the insulation in the walls and attic to make sure you don’t need to add more.
Monitor Your Sump Pump
Unless you want your basement to flood with the overabundance of moisture, part of your regular winter home maintenance should be to closely monitor your sump pump. Find the pump’s exit pipe and make sure that there are no clogs of any kind. Also, ensure that the water it releases is pushed far enough away from your home’s foundation that it won’t seep back in and start to break it down.
Spot Problem Areas on Nearby Trees
One of the worst parts about snow isn’t just that it’s so cold, it’s also quite heavy in large amounts. This can pose a serious risk to your house if trees are close by. Heavy snowfall can easily snap tree limbs and cause them to crash down on your roof. If you see any branches that have buckled or snapped under the snow’s weight, try to have them removed before it becomes a bigger issue.
Here are some more posts on home maintenance that you may find valuable:
Top Five Home Maintenance Tips for Winter
