Six ways you can prep your home for winter
Winter is coming…Actually, the recent snow seems to be saying it’s already here. After getting out your hats, gloves and coats, make sure your home is prepared, too. Here are six easy ways you can prep your home for the winter weather.
- Trim the trees and bushes around your house. Remove dead branches so they don’t damage your home under the weight of snow or ice.
- Clean out your gutters. Keeping gutters clear of leaves, sticks and other debris helps snow drain properly.
- Check your smoke detectors, fire alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. Make sure they’re working properly and replace batteries as needed. Don’t have a smoke detector in your home? Contact the American Red Cross for installation of free smoke detectors.
- Inspect your home for exposed or vulnerable piping. If you notice any exposed piping, wrap it with insulation. Most hardware stores usually carry foam rubber or fiberglass sleeves for pipes.
- Check for leaks and drafts. Inspect the windows, vents, fans, plumbing areas, air conditioners, mail chutes, and electric and gas lines of your home. You might be able to temporarily seal some leaks yourself. For those who meet income requirements, the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority offers a weatherization assistance program to help reduce utility bills. Additionally, many utility companies provide such assistance to their customers, so be sure to contact your local utility provider or dial 2-1-1 to find your local resources.
- Keep a snow shovel and roof rake handy. Even if there aren’t any blizzards or severe snowstorms over the course of the winter, you’ll need to keep your driveway and roof clear of snow.
Does your home need more than these basic preparations to be winter-weather ready? Visit INHP’s Home Repair Program to understand the options you have for financing larger home maintenance projects you may need.
