Don't Fall Victim to Winter Risks: Protect Your Home

While fall is a great time of the year for staring at the ever-changing foliage, partaking in pumpkin-infused beverages, and enjoying crisp afternoon walks, this time of year is also a great time to examine your home before temperatures drop into those single digits.  By making changes and also ensuring that your home is properly prepared in case of emergencies is the one way to cover your home from unexpected emergencies. Take advantage of the time you have now and make small steps in order to prep your home for winter:

Minimize Winter Risk for Your Home

Clean Up Your Lawn

This first step may seem obvious but cleaning up the leaves and debris from your lawn can help keep both your home and guests safer during winter weather. In addition to leaf clean up around your yard, you'll want to also consider removing leaves from gutters, and removing lawn furniture and storing it in a safe place. Also, take the proactive measure of repairing any cracks if your home has any pathways, whether they be pavement, pavers or stone, as they will only worsen after a long winter. These cracks can lead to slip and falls, which leave you open for potential liability. 

And don't forget to remove your hoses and check your drains for any excess water. Once water freezes in either, they may be damaged beyond repair and have to be replaced come spring. This check also applies to your sprinkler system as this oversight can be a costly mistake if there are any ruptures in your pipes, which may require not only reconfiguring your system but also tearing up your lawn.

Fill the Gaps

Any leaks you may have in your house could become quite costly come winter. For example, older windows are much less efficient and can cause your energy bill to soar as soon as temperatures drop. The same is true for any drafty front doors or damages in siding. Take the time to examine all of these potential holes and fill them in. Even consider investing in an energy audit as many services can provide them for free and will save you exponential sums of money in the long run.

Prepare Your Roof

When snow begins to pile up, it can put your roof in jeopardy. These damages can come in the form of ice dams, leaks, or even partial collapses of portions of your roof. Any of these issues can have a serious impact on your home. Take the time to make sure your gutters and roof are consistently clean and efficiently working to prevent the buildup of ice and snow. 

Watch Out for Water

Water damage can be a huge issue for homeowners. Seasonal storms and melting snow can lead to water damage in your home and basement. Your homeowners insurance may cover some water damage, but for things like storms and snow, you'll want to ask your insurance agent about flood insurance, since the vast majority of homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood. Having proper flood insurance can provide you the additional coverage you may need when your homeowners insurance is not enough. Additionally, take the time this fall to examine your foundation and basement windows and assess any weak points and be sure to clear your gutters (can't remind you often enough!).

Invest in Your Home

Before the cold weather comes, it's wise to take the time to fill up your oil tank, check your furnace, and make sure your HVAC system is functioning properly with quality care. These fixes will be much easier now than they will be than in the dead of winter. You may also want to give your home insurance agent a call to ensure your policy is up-to-date and provides adequate coverage for any winter risks you may face.

By taking preventative steps, you can help prepare your home for the harshness of winter weather. Best of luck and happy fixing!