The winter season is considered to be one of the most damaging times of the year for a home. From the formation of ice dams in your gutters to the potential wood rot on your windowsills, there are several ways your home can be harmed—and your security hindered.
This is why it’s crucial that you take the time to prepare your property before heavy snowfall starts hitting your area. Use these effective ways to protect your home from winter storms to improve your odds.
Clear Out Your Gutters
When the snow starts to collect in already cluttered gutter pipes, there’s nowhere for it to escape once it melts. As such, there’s a higher chance of your gutters freezing solid and becoming ineffective. This can even result in their joints bursting from the expanding ice—resulting in significant damage that you’ll need to pay to fix. Because of this, gutters should be thoroughly cleaned prior to every storm so that there’s less debris to stop the water flow.
Seal Window Areas
Sealing the cold drafts from your windows is also a helpful way to protect your home from winter storms. While it might be natural for windows to develop drafts as the home shifts on its foundation, this doesn’t mean that you can’t do anything about it. In fact, drafts can be fixed with a new layer of caulk around your window frame. If you find the frigid air and moisture are still finding their way in, you can also install a set of shutters to help block out the elements. These products have a series of benefits in the winter such as maintaining your indoor heat and providing better light control.
Insulate Your Pipes
Make sure that you’re insulating your piping systems as well. Contrary to popular belief, the majority of your home’s interior plumbing isn’t climate controlled. This means that they’re likely to both heat up and cool down depending on the outdoor temperature. So, during heavy snowstorms, they’re increasingly likely to freeze and burst when you attempt to use them. To help prevent this, it’s recommended that you try wrapping exterior pipelines with insulation.
Control the Heat in Your Attic
Don’t forget about your attic, either. Though it’s a good thing to have your attic insulated so that heat can’t escape, this also heats up the overall temperature of your roof. When snow then rests on it, it’s more likely to melt and start collecting and refreezing in your gutter system. This is what ultimately causes ice dams and roof damage during the winter months. Therefore, try your best to provide ventilation in this space and keep your heat trapped within the rest of the home rather than the attic.