Winter can be tough on your house—but preventive care goes a long way. Use our handy winter checklist to help prepare your home for cold weather. More great tips and advice from my friend Jon at American Home Contractors
1. Check Attic Venting
Clogged attic vents can lead to ice dams, mold growth, high heating bills, and weakened shingles.
Solution: Inspect vents. Remove debris with a leaf blower or compressed air.
2. Empty Flower Pots
Flower pots can crack during cold weather if they contain soil or water. And they’re pricey to replace in bulk.
Solution: Before storing pots outdoors, remove any soil, then wash and dry them. Better yet, clean them and store them in your garage or shed.
3. Store Garden Hoses
Water can get trapped in hoses and outdoor faucets, leading to burst pipes. Frozen water can also split the hose—an annoyance come spring.
Solution: Disconnect hoses, then drain and store them. Cover exterior faucets with insulation. Turn off water supply to outdoor sprinklers.
4. Inspect Roofing
Clogged gutters, loose shingles, damaged flashing, and poor attic insulation can add up to higher heating bills and costly roof leaks.
Solution: Clear clogged gutters. Have a professional roofer check your roof before snow and ice arrive. Make repairs as needed.
At American Home Contractors, we repair roofs for New Jersey homeowners every day. Contact us anytime to schedule a roof inspection or arrange for our roof tune-up service.
