Doesn’t it seem like one day you’re sitting outside basking in the crisp autumn sunshine and the next day you wake up shivering in a frost-covered world — and wondering if you remembered to do all the things you need to do to get your home ready for winter?
Before the first freeze of the season sneaks up on you, take some time to prep your home to protect it from freezing temperatures while it’s still nice outside. Future You will appreciate how a little work now means fewer outdoor chores to tackle when the thermometer plunges.
1. Outdoor Faucets and Hoses
Any water that’s left inside a hose, outdoor spigot, or pipes on exterior walls can freeze and expand during a cold snap, causing expensive damage to pipes and fixtures.
Start by disconnecting garden hoses from outdoor faucets, then drain the hoses and store them in your garage or shed so they’re protected from the elements.
If your home has an interior shutoff valve for outdoor faucets, turn off the water supply and drain any remaining water from the line. Once the water is drained, slip a Frost King Faucet Protector over the spigot. This insulated faucet cover protects outdoor faucets from freezing temperatures and installation is a breeze — watch this video for simple step-by-step instructions:
2. Windows
Windows are one of the biggest sources of energy leaks in your home. Even teeny gaps around the frame can let cold air in and warm air out, making your rooms less comfortable and forcing your heating system to work harder.
Before winter arrives, check the windows throughout your home for gaps and drafts and seal them with fresh caulk and weatherstripping. If you’ve got older or drafty windows, adding window kits is an easy-to-install fix that will make your home feel cozier all winter long. This article explains why drafty windows are such a problem — and how to fix them.
3. Doors and Door Frames
Doors can let a surprising amount of cold air into your home, even when they’re closed. Now’s the time to fix them. Check around the edges of the door. If you can see daylight when the door is closed or if the weatherstripping is cracked, loose, or is worn or compressed, it's time to replace it. And don't forget to check the bottom of the door. A worn out door sweep can leave a gaping hole between the door and the threshold that lets cold air in.
4. Roof Edges and Gutters
Think back to last winter. Do you remember icicles hanging from the roof edge? They could be a sign that your roof is due for some attention.
Roofs are made to handle winter weather, but snow and ice can cause big problems when water can’t drain properly. Before winter arrives, do a quick visual examination from the ground to look for loose or damaged shingles that could let in leaks, especially along roof edges and gutters.
Clear leaves, twigs, and other debris from gutters and downspouts so melting snow and ice drains away from your home, and make sure downspouts are securely attached and are directing water away from the foundation. Adding gutter guards once the gutters are clean will keep debris from building up.
For extra protection, install a Roof and Gutter De-Icing Kit along the roof edge. These cables warm up to melt channels through snow and ice, helping water drain away so it doesn’t refreeze and form ice dams and icicles. Watch this video for an installation tutorial:
5. Water Pipes
Heat cables can do more than protect your roof from ice buildup. They can also help prevent water pipes from freezing and bursting, one of the costliest winter problems homeowners can face.
When water freezes it expands, which can cause pipes to crack or burst. Adding an Electric Heat Cable Kit to pipes in unheated or poorly insulated areas — think basements, crawl spaces, garages, and exterior walls — keeps water warm enough to flow even when temperatures dip below -40 degrees Fahrenheit. Tubular Foam Pipe Insulation is another easy and affordable way to protect pipes. Just slip them over pipes for an extra layer of insulation.
6. The Garage
When you’re thinking about winterproofing, the garage might not be on your radar, but it’s an important area to prep for cold weather, especially if you have an attached garage that shares a wall with your living space. Start by checking the garage door bottom and the weather seal along the top and sides for gaps that let in cold air, snow, or moisture to see if it needs to be replaced. Also think about what’s in the garage. Items like paint and aerosol cans, fertilizer, batteries, and pesticides can be damaged by the cold so move them to a warmer area before temperatures drop below freezing.
