Protecting your home from harsh winter weather

For us in the northeast U.S. winter has been mild this year (to say the least). But that doesn't mean the weather isn't still causing damage to homes. And during this time of year, damage can not only make living in your home uncomfortable, it can be downright unlivable. By taking a few proactive steps, you can limit the chances of winter damage.

The first step is to understand what kinds of problems are common during the cold season. Snow and freezing rain can be troublesome, but perhaps the single most damaging part of winter to your home is the cold. Below freezing temperatures can wreak havoc to your home in ways you might have never thought of. Here are some things to look for:

Frozen pipes

This is perhaps the single most common damage claim for homeowners during the winter. Poor insulation and below freezing temperatures coupled with pipes filled with sitting water can lead to disaster. Water expands when it freezes. So if the water in your home's pipes freezes they can burst. What happens next is usually not a small problem especially during the winter: water damage.

So other than keeping your entire house at a temperature above freezing what are some other proactive steps you can take to prevent this from happening?

• Insulate pipes – proper insulation around pipes (particularly those that are exposed to colder temperatures, like in a basement) can help prevent freezing. Copper pipes provide little insulation from the cold.
• seal cracks and holes in exterior – most plumbing is in the walls of your home, so making sure they're not exposed to the harsh conditions of the outdoors is a good way to keep them from being effected by the cold.
• fix insulation – Not just in the pipes, but the walls themselves, particularly where water pipes are.
• heating system check/tune-up – More often than not, pipes burst as a direct result of your heating system failure. Make sure to get your system checked and tuned as early as possible.

Going away from home for a while/for winter is another common time and/or cause of this kind of problem. And while you may not do some of the following while you are home, here's some additional steps you can take to prevent frozen pipes:

• water trickle – leave the water on a slow trickle, the moving water is less likely to freeze in the pipes. It's worth the extra few dollars on your water bill…
• keep cabinets open – Under sinks where your pipes have sitting water, it may be helpful to expose those areas to the heated interior of your house. Otherwise it can sometimes get too cold under there.
• Keep thermostat above 60 – They say 68, but that's probably a bit high. Still, shutting off the heat completely is a terrible idea even if you do the following
• shut-off/drain water – shutting off the water completely then turning on a sink to empty the pipes is a good idea if you'll be away for the entire winter.
• Toilets – you can drain a toilet only so much, but it will still hold a bit of water that can cause damage. If your house gets under 32, it'll freeze and burst. A bit of antifreeze might do the trick. (P.S. Don't do this if you have dogs…)

Ice Dams/Damage

Another of the most common kinds of winter home damage is something called Ice Dams. Basically, water/precipitation run-off is impeded by something (even ice) and it freezes as it pools. Mostly, this happens in gutters and other drainage, but not always. Then, additional water has nowhere to go which starts to compound the problem. This can lead to roof damage, leaks, and the weight often rips portions of your gutters down (or worse). Preventing this from happening isn't always easy, so along with some preventative measures, you'll need to monitor and deal with the issue as it comes up.  Here are a few tips:

• clean and inspect gutters – this is the simplest and easiest way to prevent this kind of problem. Fall leaves/debris can clog gutters so that water can't escape. Make sure they're clean and working properly, any standing water should be dealt with before the temperatures start going below freezing.
• Attic insulation – One of the causes of this kind of problem is from a rather unlikely source: your attic. Poorly insulated attics leak heat through your roof which will melt snow even when the outside temperature is well below freezing. Then, when it hits your gutters, it freezes instantly. Properly insulate your attic.
• roof rake/remove snow whenever possible – This is sometimes easier said than done, but if it's possible, be as proactive as you can by removing the source of the problem.
• break up ice dams – After every winter storm, you should inspect your roof and gutters to identify and deal with potential ice build up. You may even want to go into your attic on occasion to be sure ice hasn't opened a leak in your roof as well…

Falling trees/branches

Winters like the one we're having here in the northeast can sometimes be even more hazardous than ones with tons of snow and cold temperatures. Freezing rain and really wet snow is much heavier on branches (and more likely to stick) than the powdery snow you get when it's really cold out. This puts a lot of stress on trees to the point that branches (and full trees) come down and take out everything in their path. For the most part, you should clear branches and trees that over hang your home, cars, and wires. But here are some other steps you can take:

• Clear dead branches even if they aren't directly over your property, they're a pain to clear when they fall and can affect other branches and trees in unexpected ways.
• Make sure taller trees are healthy. Unhealthy trees tend to have weak root systems, when they are weighed down by the weather, they are more likely to completely fall over pulling the roots right out of the ground.
• Ask your local utilities company to clear branches from power lines. Few things are worse than losing power in the middle of winter during a storm.