Time to Winterize: Is Your Home Ready For a Big Freeze?

Every week, the detail-oriented folks at Green Scene Home Inspections will give CandysDirt.com readers an education in inspection. Want to see what they see? Tune in for “Upon Closer Inspection.”

If you ask any of our inspectors what their favorite part of the job is, every one of them will say some version of “helping people understand how to take care of their homes.”

When COVID-19 first hit, we got a lot of calls for home maintenance inspections and questions, as people were spending more time at home tackling projects. 

Since this week marks the official start of winter, here are a few winter home maintenance tips that you can do to keep your home running smoothly.

Winterize your outdoor faucets and sprinkler system.

It may be 70 degrees today, but this is Texas and you never know when we might get an overnight freeze.

“Winterizing” basically means you’re draining the water from the system so if there’s a freeze you don’t end up with burst pipes. While you’re at it, test each sprinkler head to make sure they’re functional and pointing in the right direction.

Have your chimney professionally cleaned.

A lot of people let this go much longer than they should. You should have your chimney swept annually to prevent creosote from building up, causing blockages and risking a chimney fire.

All that built-up residue heats up as your fire burns and can eventually catch fire itself, burning the masonry and then your roof.

Check all caulking, inside and outside.

This includes caulking around windows, doors, bathtubs, sinks, and toilets. Caulk deteriorates over time and needs to be touched up or replaced to prevent leaks. In this photo, the window needs new caulking – rain is seeping into the house.

A little home maintenance helps protect your home from costly repairs, keeps it running efficiently, and helps maintain its value. If these tips are helpful, you can find a Winter Home Maintenance checklist here.