9 Tips for Winterizing Your Detroit Home

As winter descends on Michigan, it’s essential to protect your home and property from winter damage. Michigan winter weather can be erratic and unpredictable, so it’s a good idea to prepare for the worst. Without proper winterization, your Detroit home may be in for a rough time. That’s why S&S Property Preservation has put together this list of the top 9 tips for winterizing your Detroit home.

The 9 Essential Steps to Winterizing Your Detroit Home

Clean Out the Gutters

When winterizing your Detroit home, it’s a good idea to start outside and work your way in. Start the winterization process with your gutters. The leaves, sticks, and other debris that build up in your gutters over the year trap water. As the temperature drops and the water freezes, ice dams form on your gutters. Ice dams can cause devastating damage to homes throughout the winter. By trapping water and preventing it from running off your roof, ice dams can cause serious water and ice damage to your roof. Not only that, but the water damage from clogged gutters in the winter can easily extend into your home, causing costly damage. Prevent winter damage to your home by clearing out your gutters before the snow starts to accumulate.

Inspect the Roof

While you’re cleaning out your gutters, take a look at the roof. Any damage to your roof can become catastrophic if not taken care of before winter strikes. Loose or damaged shingles, warped areas, and gaps in the roof can cause many different problems throughout the winter. Heat escapes through the damaged roof, drastically reducing your heating efficiency and costing you even more money. A damaged roof is also the perfect place for pests, like insects and rodents, to invade your home. Prevent a pest problem, lower heating efficiency, and water damage by inspecting your roof and repairing any damage before winter hits.

Maintain the Chimney

One of the most important and overlooked areas to focus on when winterizing your Detroit home is the chimney. Every year, one of the most common causes of house fires throughout the U.S. are poorly maintained chimneys. Over time, and without consistent cleaning and inspecting services, debris and a highly flammable residue called creosote build up within the chimney. This debris is a ticking time bomb for a chimney fire. To prevent a devastating chimney fire this winter, have your chimney inspected and cleaned.

Trim Trees and Shrubs

Another easy way to prevent winter damage to your home and property is by properly maintaining your trees and shrubs. Ice buildup on tree branches and shrubs weigh the plant down, causing damage and even death to the plant. This greatly reduces your home’s curb appeal in the spring. Not only will ice buildup on your trees and shrubs cause damage to the plant, but it can also cause damage to your home too. If you have any branches that overhang your house, deck, or driveway, it’s absolutely essential that you trim those branches before the next ice storm. Insects, rodents, and other pests often use poorly maintained shrubs as their winter shelter and, if the shrub is too close to the side of your house, those pests may find their way inside. Trim your trees and shrubs in the fall to protect your home, property, and landscaping this winter.

Seal Your Doors and Windows

Another essential step in home winterization in Michigan is sealing your doors and windows. The doors and windows of your home come under attack during the fall. As temperatures drop, pests, like insects and rodents, go on the hunt for their overwintering home. Unfortunately, a house is the perfect place for a population of pests. Properly sealing your doors and windows in the fall helps prevent pest infestations in the winter. Not only that, but heat escapes from improperly sealed doors and windows. Use caulk or weather strips to properly seal your doors and windows to improve the heating efficiency of your home and prevent winter pest infestations.

Test the Detectors in Your Home

Winterizing your Detroit home not only protects your home and property, it protects you and your family as well. One of the most important steps in winterizing your home is testing the various detectors throughout your home. Smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, radon detectors, and any other detectors in your home keep you and your family safe, as long as they function properly. Test your detectors throughout your home to ensure they work properly, keeping you and your family safe this winter.

Insulate and Protect Your Pipes

Properly insulating your pipes in the fall helps protect your home from costly and preventable winter damage. This is especially true for any pipes that experience outside temperatures. Pipes in the crawlspace and along the outer wall of your home must be insulated to prevent catastrophic damage, like a pipe bursting. Wrap these pipes with foam insulation or heat tape to ensure the water doesn’t freeze during the winter. If you have a sprinkler system throughout your yard, then make sure you winterize that as well to prevent costly repairs in the spring.

Check Your HVAC System

Before the temperature drops too much, it’s a good idea to have your HVAC system inspected and maintained by a professional. A yearly inspection for your furnace helps ensure it continues running as efficiently and safely as possible. This inspection protects your family from potential carbon monoxide buildups and helps you avoid a furnace fire. Make sure to clean and replace your air filters as well and have your HVAC professional inspect and clean out the vents and ducts throughout your home. This simple service improves air quality and heating efficiency throughout your home.

Gather Your Winter Essentials

Finally, make sure all of your winter equipment is accessible and ready for use. Put your snow shovels in an easy to reach location and stock up on salt for your driveway and walkways. If you have a snowblower, then now’s the time to get it out of storage and prepare it for the winter ahead. Getting all of your winter equipment ready now helps prepare you for the winter and ensuring you won’t be scrambling when the first big snowstorm hits.

Invest in Services From S&S Property Preservation to Protect Your Home This Winter

Partnering with a Detroit-based property preservation company can help ensure your home is ready for the winter. S&S Property Preservation offers beneficial services like roofing, siding, painting, flooring, and more, to keep your house in the best possible condition.

Get started today by calling us at (313) 241-6155 or you can schedule a FREE estimate online. Keep up with the best tips and guides for homeowners in and around Detroit by checking out our blog. Check us out on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube to catch our latest updates, offerings, and content.