Essential Winter Home Maintenance Tips

Replace Your Furnace Filter

A dirty filter can shorten the lifespan of your HVAC unit and increase your energy bills. Replace your furnace filter whenever it gets dirty, which could mean every few months or even monthly. At a minimum, change your filter twice a year: once before winter and once before summer.

Protect Your Garden Hose

Water left in your garden hose can freeze, expand, and damage both the hose and your plumbing. To prevent this:

Unscrew and completely drain the hose.

Store it in the garage for the winter, ideally off the ground.

Keep Garage Doors Closed

Cold air entering through an open garage door makes it harder for your furnace to maintain indoor temperatures. Clear snow away to ensure the garage door shuts completely, especially if water supply lines run through the garage. Clear snow away to ensure the garage door shuts completely.

Check Your Gutters

Debris in gutters can cause water to back up. In winter, this backup can freeze and lead to ice dams, which may damage your roof. Additionally, the added weight of ice can cause gutters to pull away from the house. Clean your gutters thoroughly before the freezing weather arrives.

Winterize Your Irrigation System

To prevent freeze damage to your irrigation system, have it winterized. This process is best handled by a professional, typically costing $75 to $105.

Use Sand on Slick Driveways and Sidewalks

While salt mixtures are effective for melting ice, they can damage concrete surfaces by causing pitting and cracks. Instead, use sand to improve traction and preserve your concrete.

Adjust Humidifier Settings

During winter, set your humidifier to maintain indoor humidity between 30-40%. This helps prevent condensation on windows. During extremely cold weather, temporarily lower the setting to 15-20% to prevent excessive moisture buildup.

Avoid Setting the Thermostat Too Low at Night

Even if you’re trying to save on heating costs, avoid setting the thermostat too low at night. This helps prevent pipes from freezing and maintains a consistent indoor temperature.

Extreme Temperatures: Prevent Frozen Pipes

To protect your plumbing during extremely cold weather:

Open cabinets below sinks to allow warm air to circulate around pipes.

Insulate exposed pipes, especially in unheated areas like basements and garages.

Use a space heater in rooms with pipes located above garages.

Let faucets run at a drip or low flow to keep water moving.

Monitor indoor temperatures and listen for unusual sounds from pipes.

By following these tips, you can keep your home safe, warm, and efficient throughout the winter months.

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