By ED DEL GRANDE
HGTVPro.com Normally when summer ends here in New England, I try to put off thinking about the upcoming winter for as long as I can. Weather wise, there's usually a nice seasonal fall buffer for picking apples, enjoying the foliage and watching the New England Patriots play football while everything is still nice. Well, not this year. Anyone who watched highlights of the Patriots' big win against the Titans may have noticed that they did it in the snow, in southern New England, in mid-October! Since I live close to the stadium, it meant that I also had snow at my house.
I guess it's never too early to prepare your home for winter. So, here are the winter preparation tips that I am now doing at my own home, and hope you get started on as well.
Shut down and drain any outdoor faucets that may freeze, or have special "frost free" silcocks installed. A frost-free silcock is made so that you can use it all winter since the turn-off portion of the valve is located inside the house. For warmer climates, they make nice insulating caps that can cover existing outside faucets for protection on the few chilly nights you may have. This way you can keep your faucets on all winter; simply pop off the cap if you need to use the faucet.
Install a code-approved "ice-dam wire" where ice may collect on your roof and in your gutters. I never thought this would happen to me, but it did a few winters ago. I was relaxing in my living room when all of a sudden water started dripping on me through the ceiling. Even though I am considered a "home improvement expert," I felt helpless for a few minutes wondering what was going on, because it was not raining or snowing outside. Since we did have snow on the roof, I composed myself and realized that for the first time in almost 20 years, I had an ice dam problem on my roof. After a day of carefully chipping off a six-inch deep ice block along my roof edge and gutter, I installed ice dam wire according to my local codes, and plugged it into an approved outdoor G.F.C.I. electrical outlet. I wish I had done that in the fall!
Seal up any cracks in your driveway and/or walkway before they turn into really big cracks in the spring. This should be done in warmer climates as well, and is a simple fix that many homeowners overlook in the fall. If you leave these cracks exposed, water will get into them during the winter when the days are warmer and that water will freeze up during cold nights and ice up and expand. Before you know it, when spring comes, you'll be the one "cracking up" at all the repairs your driveway and walkways will need! You can get approved crack fillers at your local home center for just about any type of surface.
These are just a few big tips, and there are other things you need to consider:
- Proper storage of your patio furniture
- Changing air filters
- Checking or installing sump pumps in your basement
- Critter control
- Cleaning gutter drains and looking into installing backup generator power for your home.
Remember, in most cases your home is the biggest investment you'll ever make in your life, and you need to invest your time protecting it. Think of it like a checking account; if you don't put money into it from time to time, you may find yourself in the dead of winter with frozen assets!
(Master Contractor/Plumber Ed Del Grande is known internationally as the author of the book "Ed Del Grande's House Call" and for hosting TV shows on Scripps Networks and HGTVPro.com. For information visit eddelgrande.com or write eddelgrande(at)hgtvpro.com. Always consult local contractors and codes.)
