AccuWeather has put out a helpful list for winterizing your house. They offer 12 ways to inspect and repair possible problem points, before they become an issue.
AccuWeather:
Here are the 12 tips that the article suggests for homeowners looking to get ready for cold weather:
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1. Insulate walls and attics against drafts.
2. Caulk and weather-strip doors and windows.
3. Replace damaged, loose or missing shingles that may leak during a winter storm.
4. Clear your gutters.
5. Repair roof leaks and remove tree branches that could get weighed down with ice or snow and fall on your house or your neighbor's.
6. Wrap water pipes in your basement and crawl spaces with insulation sleeves to slow heat transfer.
7. Turn off exterior faucets as these pipes can burst if they freeze.
8. Drain your irrigation system.
9. Have a contractor check your roof to see if it can sustain the weight of a heavy snowfall.
10. Avoid ice dams - where water from melted snow refreezes in the gutters and seeps in under the roof, soaking interior walls. To avoid ice dams: Ventilate your attic. Insulate the attic floor well to minimize the amount of rising heat. Consider having a water-repellent membrane installed under your roof covering.
11. Divert water by adding extensions to downspouts so that water runs at least 3 to 4 feet away from the foundation.
12. Tune up your heating system to avoid waiting in line for repairs on a cold day.
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