*Home and Garden* - Getting the House Ready for the Winter

You can fight it all you want, but if you live in an area where it snows for six months out of the year, then snow is eventually going to fall. Instead of laying on the couch staring out the window to look at the leaves hanging out of the gutters, you need to motivate yourself to get up and do something about it. October is pretty much your last chance to get the house ready for winter before its too late, so get moving!





Gutters
I mentioned the gutters previously because they are important. If the melted snow does not have a clear way to get off your roof, then it will collect in your gutters and create ice dams. It won't be long before the cold water is getting into your home and causing a lot of damage. Save yourself the hassle and clean your gutters before the snow starts flying.

Repairs
Look, I'm just like you. I can stare at a misaligned piece of siding or an ill-hanging gutter for months as well. But siding and gutters, among other things, are installed the way they are for a reason. You need to get out there and make those minor repairs that will help keep the snow and squirrels out of your home. Yes, the noises you hear banging around in your attic at night are squirrels. They are eating your insulation, chewing on your wires and causing all kinds of havoc. So make those minor repairs to help keep everything out of your home that does not belong there.

Tree Trimming
If you have trees hanging over your roof (like I do), then you need to trim those branches. During the course of the winter, tree branches can get heavy from the ice and snow. They could collapse onto your roof and cause all kinds of problems. Tree trimming can get tricky if the branches are in a place you cannot safely get to with a step-ladder. If that is the case, then hire someone.

Leaking Roof

We talked earlier about ice dams and how they can cause water to leak inside your house. If you do notice your roof leaking during the winter, and you see some pretty good sized icicles hanging from your gutters, then you have an ice dam problem. No need to panic. You still have time to get an experienced contractor over to your house to install heat tape in your gutters and on the edge of your roof. When the snow starts to melt off of your roof and you see icicles starting to form, just turn on the heat tape. When the icicles are gone, then turn the heating tape off.

Ice dams cause pretty icicles
and serious damage to your home.

One more thought about ice dams:

Ice dams are an indication that you either have a poorly designed roof (as in my case) or that you need new insulation in your attic. Do not let this problem go unresolved. Next spring, get a contractor in to look your house over and make suggestions on how to prevent ice dams and stop your home heating money from escaping through your roof.

Yeah, yeah. It is a lot of work to prep your home for winter. But if you do not do it, you could be looking at a lot of long-term, and potentially expensive, damage. So take the time to winterize your house so you can sit back and hibernate.