Fall Maintenance Tips to Prepare Your Home for Winter in Chicago

Fall is in full swing, which means winter isn’t far behind. Are you ready? More importantly, is your home ready? The freezing cold temperatures, rain and snow of winter, can wreak havoc on your homes if you are not careful. Fortunately, with a little preparation and keeping the following tips in mind, you and your home can survive winter.

Fall Maintenance Tips to Prepare Your Home for Winter

Winterizing your home is a must and the following areas should be addressed:

1. Roof: Inspect your roof for damage, such as missing or damaged shingles. Your shingles are designed to keep your roof safe. When these shingles are damaged or missing, your roof is left vulnerable, especially during the winter.
2. ​Gutters and Downspouts: Your gutters and downspouts play an important role in the protection of your home, directing water away from your roof. When your gutters and downspouts are clogged, water has nowhere to go but  up. And your shingles are not designed to protect your roof from water coming from that direction. As a result, the water may seep in under your shingles and into your attic, leading to water damage and mold.
3. Plumbing and Pipes: It is important to have your pipes serviced before winter sets in. Pipes need to be insulated before temperatures dip down below zero. You should also shut off and drain any outside spigots to avoid freezing.
4. Furnace: As expected, your furnace will be under a lot of pressure this winter.  Is it ready for the increased workload? You should have your furnace annually serviced in order to prepare for winter.

Each of the above four areas is essential to the comfort and safety of your home. Each of the above four areas is also vulnerable to damage during the freezing winter months, which often bring high winds and excessive moisture (rain and snow).

If, at any time during the winter, you experience some form of water intrusion, whether it is a broken pipe, leaky roof, etc., it is important to call a professional water extraction and water damage restoration company, likeServiceMaster of Lincoln Park.