In Part 1 of this series, we focused on proven prep strategies to get the inside of your home ready for the Wisconsin winter. Now, in Part 2, we turn our attention to prepping the outside of your home before the winter weather sets in.
The following nine tips can go a long way in protecting your home, and avoiding costly expenses, so let’s get started …
1. Be Sure to Drain Lawn Irrigation Systems
If you have a lawn irrigation system, it’s important to make sure it’s drained before freezing weather sets in. Unlike the piping that leads into your home, irrigation systems aren’t buried deeply, which means they have a tendency to freeze once the temperature drops. Freezing can lead to bursting pipes, and it’s best to avoid both. Even if you are only using a standard hose, it’s a good idea to drain it completely so it doesn’t incur damage, or freeze the pipe attachment on the outside of your home. If you’re not clear on how to drain your lawn irrigation system, you might want to reach out to a professional to handle it for you.
2. Turn Off Water Feed to All Exterior Faucets
Take an inventory of all of your home’s hose spigots, as well as any other water feed like an outdoor shower or pool. Inside your home, you’ll find the valve (if you have a central shutoff valve) or valves associated with these water feeds. Simply shut them off until spring.
3. Prune Back Trees and Shrubs
We talked about this in our Summer Vinyl Siding Tips article, but it’s worth repeating here.
Pruning back trees, shrubs and plants that are close to the home can help you protect your siding from overgrowth, which can damage siding by rubbing up against it, potentially trapping moisture, or becoming a festering ground for pest nests.
Keeping vegetation a minimum of one foot away from your home allows air to easily circulate, which helps keep your siding healthy.
4. Check Out Your Chimney
Get your chimney inspected before the winter sets in. Flammable creosote can accumulate on your chimney, plus a chimney’s fireproof lining can break down with age. In addition, an inspection, and cleaning when necessary, can help you avoid poor ventilation — which can cause fumes and smoke to enter your home. We suggest an annual inspection of your chimney.
While you’re at it, also have your flues inspected to ensure they are working properly. This will prevent drafts and heat loss.
5. Have Your Roof Inspected
OK, you probably knew this one was coming, especially since one of our specialties is roofing. The good news is that you should never have to pay for a roof inspection, and when we perform one we always document anything we find with photos that we share with the homeowner. That said, if a roofing contractor wants to charge you for a roof inspection, find another vendor.
A roof inspection should include inspection of all the shingles to make sure they are not loose, damaged, or missing. In addition, things that are harder to inspect yourself include flashing around your eaves and pipes. A roof inspection now can help you avoid leaks and damage to your home down the road.
6. Clean Those Gutters (and Downspouts)!
If you have gutter guards, your chances of having to clean you gutters diminishes greatly — as long as you’re using a dependable product like Master Shield.
That said, inspecting and cleaning your gutters, just after the leaves fall off the trees closest to your home, will help with proper drainage from rain, and from when snow melts. The last thing you want is ice damming because of a clogged, or slow-draining gutter. Standing water on roofing can also lead to quicker decay.
7. Prep Small Gas-powered Engines
From your lawn mower, to any other gas-powered landscaping equipment you have in your garage, take a few minutes to drain the fuel or use a product like STA-BIL to preserve gas until the spring.
8. Grab You Winter-centric Accessories Now
Make a run to the store (or your favorite online retailer) to stock up on things like ice melt, and be sure you have enough shovels, firewood, and fresh gas for the snowblower — which we’re hoping you treated with STA-BIL at the end of last winter so it’s in good working order. Lots of people wait for the big storm to hit, only to find that the shelves are already empty when they go to get supplies.
9. Caulk Those Windows & Doors!
Drafts are never a welcome occurrence during our Wisconsin winters, which is why caulking the exterior of your windows and doors is on our winter weather prep list.
To begin, check for drafts around your home, which may or may not be an easy task depending on the current weather. A visual inspection, looking specifically for gaps around windows and doors, is the easier way to determine whether or not an area needs new caulking. Pay close attention to areas where cables and pipes enter the home. In addition to caulk, weatherstripping (IE: at the bottom of your entry door) can be helpful, too. One quick note: when working with caulk on the exterior of your windows, be sure not to caulk directly on a window sill. These are designed to move water away from the window and you don’t want to interfere with this process. Finally, if you’re not familiar with caulking windows and/or doors, be sure to do some research on process and products before you begin.
This brings us to the end of our winter weather prep tips series. We hope you found the information provided useful.
Get in Touch …
If you need assistance with the exterior of your home — or would like a complimentary roofing or siding inspection before the winter sets in — feel free to contact Legacy Exteriors anytime. We’re always happy to help!
