Do you feel the breeze in the air? It’s getting colder outside and you need to protect your house. But, don’t let your home fall victim to preventable winter damage. Read on to learn how to protect your home from winter damage.

1. Wrap Your Pipes

Frozen pipes are the leading cause of pipe bursts and flooding during the wintertime. You can protect your pipes by wrapping them with insulation. Make sure you wrap basement and crawl space pipes to prevent flooding in tight areas. When the temperature goes below freezing, you can let your faucet drip for a few minutes to keep water flowing through the pipes.

2. Clean Your Gutters

Before the first snowfall, clean your gutters. They might be clogged with leaves and other debris. Cleaning your gutters will prevent ice buildup and leaks. While you’re cleaning, you may notice cracks or minor damage. If so, call a gutter specialist as soon as possible. You don’t want gutter problems while you’re in the middle of winter.

3. Service Heating Systems

During the wintertime, you need your heating systems more than ever. You must get them serviced before temperatures drop. In addition, you want to make sure your system is running efficiently and performing well. Dust and contaminants can cause heating system failure, so you need to ensure everything is running properly.

4. Seal Any Cracks and Leaks

In cold weather, you must keep the heat inside your house. Sealing cracks and leaks is essential to keeping your home warm. Small cracks let in cold air and drafts. You should also check cracks and leaks after winter because you may need to replace certain parts. For example, cracks from the cold are a sign it’s time to replace your skylight when the weather permits.

5. Trim Trees

Before heavy weather changes, you need to trim your trees. If you have a tree with branches hanging over your roof, it’s time to trim or remove them. When snowfall happens, branches can accumulate heavy snow and fall onto your roof. If the tree branch is heavy enough, it can cause roof damage. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with a tree removal service to get rid of unwanted branches.

As the weather gets colder, you need to protect your home from weather-induced damage. Before closing your doors in the winter, use these tips on how to protect your home from winter damage.