Winter Home Tips: Outdoor Fixes to Prevent Problems

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When winter hits, it’s not just a change for people, it also affects plants, animals, and buildings. Sometimes we’re too busy staying warm to want to spend a lot of time outside, but a small investment in time as the weather changes can make a big difference to your home.

We all know that a lawn that’s been edged looks really sharp, but did you know that it serves a practical purpose? Leaving a 3-inch strip of edging around your lawn beside driveways and other garden surfaces can give melting snow and ice a place to absorb into the ground and prevent flooding when it warms up. Another smart tip for making sure surfaces like driveways and paths are easy to clear is to plant large trees and shrubs far enough away that they won’t push up the concrete or bricks, making it difficult to shovel.  Leaves, needles, and garden debris should also be tidied before the first snowfall, leaving a clear path for your shovel and making it more difficult for ice to form.

Another outdoor area that doesn’t get as much attention as it may need before winter snow flies is the gutters.  HGTV recommends inspecting these regularly, but especially before winter as this is when they will get the majority of their use if you live in a highly variable climate.  They cite four areas that need attention: cleaning the gutters, roof area, and downspouts of debris, checking seams for proper sealing and anchors to make sure they are securely attached, checking the fascia of the building for mold and water damage, and also checking downspouts and diverters to make sure that they are pushing water far enough from the house so that it’s not causing damage to your foundation.

There are many other ways helpful tips for winter-proofing your home, but one of the most important in terms of preventing costly, and possibly structural, damage is making sure that your outdoor taps are turned off and that any outdoor pipes are properly insulated.  Indoor pipes also need to remain warm so that they don’t burst and cause issues.  One of the easiest ways to prevent the freezing of an outdoor tap is to install a freeze-proof faucet.  The initial cost may seem high, but the amount of issues it solves ensures that it’s a great investment for any home owner looking to prevent repairs down the road.

There are many other ways you can prepare your home for winter.  Check out some more great tips here.

What’s your best winter-proofing house tip?  Let me know in the comments or on Facebook.