Winter Home Maintenance Tips for Indiana Homeowners

Winter can be harsh on your home if you haven’t prepared. Here’s the start of a maintenance checklist.

Disconnect Hoses from Outside Faucets

This keeps water inside the hose from freezing and splitting the casing, and it also allows the pipes inside the wall to drain completely so that water doesn’t freeze and crack them. Most outside spigots now are self-draining, but if you have an older home, you may have to manually turn off the valve inside the house to shut off the water so that it drains completely (this valve is usually in the basement or crawl space near where the pipe goes to the outside). It’s important to remember this task, because you may not notice that these pipes have burst until you turn the faucet on in spring and water leaks into your exterior wall. If you’re lucky, Lesh says, you’ll have a major leak that will be noticeable right away; it’s worse to have a slower leak that allows water to drip slowly into the wall, where mold and rot can do extensive damage without your even seeing it.

Clean Snow Off Sidewalks and Driveways

This is a no-brainer—and it can be a huge chore. Shoveling heavy snow is hard on your back and can put a strain on your heart. A snow blower is nice, but in Indiana there might be winters when you would use it weekly and other years when it might sit in your garage and never see the light of day. It’s a big investment that takes up a lot of room—and you might not use it very often.

Clear Your Gutters and Downspouts

Check that gutters and downspouts are clear of obstructions, so they’ll direct water away from the foundation, walkways and driveways. Clean the gutters of leaves, nests and debris so this winter’s snow can drain, and ice can melt properly. If the gutters aren’t clear the weight from a heavy snowfall or ice storm could tear the gutters right off your home.

Insulate Windows and Doors

Improve the efficiency of your home heating system by cutting down on drafts and air leaks. Take care of sealing up any trouble spots and ensure your doors and windows have functioning weatherstripping.

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Call Lesa Miller at (812) 360-3863 or go online at https://lesamillerrealestate.com/ where you can read her posts on other social media accounts and websites.