Top 10 Home Protection To-Dos for Winter

As the weather cools, we naturally retreat indoors. But nothing shatters cozy hibernation like a balky sump pump, a frigid draft, or something loud that strikes after midnight. “’Out on the lawn there arose such a clatter.’ When I arise to see what’s the matter, let’s hope it’s reindeer instead of a branch tearing my gutter off,” says Brian Rigsby, President, Paul Davis Restoration of The Tri State Area – Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. “Take time now to button up your property before winter’s wrath strikes.”

These ten steps transform your residence into a snug, safe and efficient sanctuary:

1. Re-caulk and weather-strip doors and windows. Keep drafts at bay by replacing hardened caulk and cracked or peeling weather-stripping. Insulate switch and outlet boxes, too. They often directly contact sheathing and funnel cold air into the dwelling.
2. Trim adjacent trees. Ice, snow and wind loosen dead and dying branches; they can also scrape new growth against the home’s exterior. Trim trees now to prevent damage to the building envelope.
3. Clean gutters, downspouts and yard drains. Ensure that rain and snowmelt can travel freely down the structure and away from foundations without ponding. 
4. Inspect chimneys, fireplaces, and wood stoves. Perform maintenance and tune-ups now before use increases as the temperature plummets. Most require attention to perform well after six idle months. Allow plenty of time to schedule professional attention: these experts are in high demand during heating season.
5. Add insulation to attics. Poorly insulated attics funnel as much as 25 percent of your expensive heat into the outdoors. Properly installed insulation – with R values recommended for your location – reduces this loss and keeps temperatures consistent inside.
6. Check roofs and attics. Winter weather and temperature fluctuations tax building materials to their limits. Replace or repair weak, damaged or aged areas before winter deepens.
7. Service electrical back-up generators. Professional attention and maintenance ensure these workhorses operate reliably if – and for more areas than ever, when – the power fails. 
8. Maintain home alarms. Service smoke and carbon monoxide detectors by dusting exteriors with a vacuum cleaner and replacing batteries. Regular attention vanquishes pesky beeps at inconvenient moments.
9. Upgrade windows and doors. Consider installing strong storm windows and doors when replacement time rolls around. In the meantime, home stores carry easy-to-install plastic sheeting kits to cut drafts now. 
10. Prepare sump pumps. Test sump pumps to ensure they can handle storm runoff and snowmelt. If the pump is older than ten years, install a new model.

“It’s far better to lounge in peaceful warmth as the storm rages outside instead of worrying about your house,” Rigsby says. “Ten steps now help avert trouble. If misfortune strikes anyway, we’re here 24 hours, seven days a week and 365 days a year.”