Winterize Your Home

If you have already pulled down your winter sweaters and put away your shorts, it is a good time to think about the condition of your home this winter. If you found that your roof was leaking during autumn rainstorms, it will need to be mended or completely replaced before the snow, ice, and wind begin to brutalize it.

While your roof is of utmost importance, there are several other things you need to be aware of, and possibly prepare for, before the heavy snow arrives.

Frozen Pipes

Here is the most helpful hint to prevent frozen pipes: DON'T TURN OFF THE HEAT. You can turn it down, but never off especially when you will be gone for a few days. Keeping your heat on will prohibit the temperature inside your home from getting anywhere close to the freezing point. Read more about frozen pipes.

Another good idea is to keep a faucet running at a fast drip. Choose the utility sink since it is typically the most discrete. This will keep the water moving and make it more difficult to freeze, which will keep the pipes from freezing, cracking, and bursting.

Preventing Ice Dams

Ice dams form when your attic is not properly insulated. A poorly insulated attic will be warm - where it should be cold - and the heat will melt the snow on the roof, and it will puddle and freeze in your gutters. Then more ice will pile on top and soon you have an ice dam. These dams are very heavy and will quickly pull off the guttering, soffits, and trim on that side of the house.

To prevent ice dams you need to have a professional out to insulate your attic from the home's heat. A properly insulated attic will be hot in the summer and cold in the winter. By insulating the attic, you heat and cool the home more efficiently, plus you prevent costly damage to your roof, guttering, and soffits.

Snow Removal

If everything else is in order, start thinking about your snow removal. If you are unable to shovel your own snow, consider buying a snow blower. They can be pretty expensive depending on the model, but they do all the work. If you are able to shovel your own snow, think about an ergonomic shovel to keep your back from going out. If you are in an area where you receive lake effect snow, try scooping less snow with each shovel swipe. Lake effect snow is very heavy and you can really damage yourself if you are not careful.

If none of these options appeal to you or you have too much area to shovel than you have the time or energy for, consider hiring a snow removal contractor to take care of your sidewalks and driveway.

Sidewalk Salt and Salting Driveways

After you have shoveled your sidewalk and driveway, sprinkle some sidewalk salt on these areas. Sidewalk salt can be found with other de-icers at the grocery store, hardware stores and most convenience stores. Salt (and any other crystal for that matter) will raise the boiling point of water and lower the freezing point. This is not a cure all, but de-icing agents will help with your assault on snow and ice.

Snow on Roofs

In areas that get extreme levels of snow, sometimes snow can pile high on your roof. This is a common occurrence in areas that typically don't get much snow because the roofs in those areas aren't as steep and the snow won't slide off. If you are concerned that too much snow might damage your roof, call a snow removal contractor out to shovel the snow from your roof. Don't attempt this yourself as this is a very dangerous job.