Protect Your Home from Winter Weather

Old Man Winter is just getting started.

Winter weather can be hard on your whole house.  Stay warm, save money and protect your home from winter's worst using these simple steps. 

• Roof and Attic 
  It may seem counterintuitive, but making sure your attic is well-ventilated is important to fighting the cold weather winter brings. Keeping vents clear and adding them where necessary, keeps the temperature in your attic close to the temperature outside. Cold air below the roof keeps ice dams from forming on the roof. Ice dams are dangerous because they force draining water under the roof. From there, water can enter your attic or even your home's walls.
  
  One sure sign of ice dams forming are icicles dangling from your roof edge. Skip taking pictures, however, and get them taken care of immediately. In addition to blocking proper water drainage, they can also lead to snow build-up and a lot of extra weight that your roof isn't designed to hold.
  
  
• Water Pipes
  Taking care of your home's pipes is another important part of homeownership. Once the cold weather begins to set in, make sure all hoses are disconnected from outside faucets. You should also cover all outside faucets with insulated covers. You can find them at any hardware store, and they are worth their weight in gold. They can be the difference between keeping all that frozen water outside in the form of ice and snow and having it inside where it can burst your pipes.
  
  
• Keep Winter Outside
  On the coldest day of the year, imagine leaving a window open to let all the cold air in. That may not sound like a very good way to keep your home comfortable, or even keep your energy bills down. Add up all those cracks and crannies that are letting cold air in, and you may just find that's equivalent to what you are doing. Take the time before the cold weather sets in to check out window frames, fireplaces, dryer vents or anywhere else in your home where something inside your home passes outside. Caulk those little cracks up, and realize energy savings and a home that's a bit easier to wake up to.

Cold-weather preparation and maintenance aren't one of the most fun aspects of homeownership, but it's definitely one of the most important. Taking a little time before the snow starts falling could make the difference between huge repair bills and bottom-line energy savings.

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