LITITZ, Pa. — Before you fully hunker down for the winter, there’s a few projects and inspections you should do on the outside of your house to make sure you’re best prepared for the colder months.
Adam Mentzer, owner of Adam's Handyman and Contracting in Lancaster, says the first thing on a homeowner’s list should be to clean out your gutters. If your gutters aren’t clean, it can create a backlog of water, which could cause headaches when temperatures drop.
“We have a lot of days with water and freezing,” he told FOX43. “As that water freezes, it expands, and it’s going to try and get underneath your shingles. And it can cause damage to your actual roof sheathing and your actual shingles as well. So you could be looking at a lot more damage than actual gutters.”
Cleaning your gutters is as simple as putting some gloves on and removing any debris that’s clogged up. Mentzer says you can also buy tools to help scoop out any leaves and sticks. He also recommends buying gutter guards to help prevent the buildup of debris in the future.
When it comes to your roof, this is a great time of year to get it inspected. Mentzer suggests having this done one to two times a year.
“Cracked shingles or broken shingles is something you want to look out for, especially going into the winter to make sure that we’re not having any leakage underneath that,” he said.
Homeowners should also look for discoloration or sagging of your roof. If you notice any of these issues, it’s time to call a professional.
Finally, while inspecting the outside of your house, make sure to check that you’re turning your outdoor faucets and shutoff valves off. Doing this will ensure that freezing water won’t burst any pipes during the winter.
If you don’t have a shutoff valve inside, a faucet cover will work to prevent freezing issues and can be purchased at your local home improvement store.
Mentzer says that most of these home improvement chores can be done yourself. However, if you notice a bigger problem or are unsure of how to proceed with some of this home care, you can always call a professional to come and help.