Preparing Your Home for New England Winters: A Quick & Easy Checklist
New England winters are tough on homes (and everything else). When it comes to your home, snow, ice, and freezing temperatures wear down surfaces, create leaks, and drive up energy bills.
Taking a few simple steps before the first freeze will protect your property and save you thousands of dollars in repairs, maintenance costs, and energy bills. To help you ready for this next winter, check out the checklist below:
1. Clean Your Gutters and Downspouts
Gutters are meant to move water away from your roof and foundation. When they clog, melting snow has nowhere to go. When the temps drop at night, that melting snow refreezes and causes ice dams, which can loosen shingles and lead to roof leaks.
To prevent this, do the following before the temperatures get much colder:
Clear leaves, needles, and debris from gutters and downspouts.
Check for sagging or loose sections and repair where needed.
Make sure your downspouts extend several feet away from your foundation.
Run water through your gutters to confirm everything drains correctly.
If your home has a lot of trees and tons of leaves falling, you might want to consider installing gutter guards to keep debris out so you don’t have to do this every year.
2. Power Wash your Siding, Roof, Deck, and Patio
While most homeowners know power washing can help remove dirt and make your home look better, they often don’t realize that algae and mildew also hold moisture. During the winter, that moisture freezes and expands, causing long-term damage to your roof, deck, and more.
That’s why it’s a good idea to schedule a professional home power washing before temperatures get too cold. At Britewash, we use a soft wash method that cleans safely and effectively, even if you’re in a historic New England home. It’s gentle enough for vinyl siding, wood, shingles, and glass, but tough enough to remove algae, mildew, and stains completely.
A fall soft washing protects your home by:
Preventing mold and algae from spreading under snow and ice.
Extending the life of your roof and siding.
Reducing slip hazards on decks and patios.
Keeping exterior surfaces cleaner through the winter.
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3. Seal Windows and Doors
Small air leaks waste heat and increase energy bills. As temperatures drop even more, seals shrink and gaps get even worse.
To prevent cold rooms and save money on your heating bills, take these steps ASAP:
Check for drafts around frames and door edges.
Replace worn weather stripping and add new caulk where needed.
Inspect door sweeps and window locks.
Add plastic insulation film for older windows.
Proper sealing keeps warm air inside and moisture out, keeping your family comfortable and preventing damage to frames and trim.
4. Inspect Your Roof and Chimney
Your roof takes the most impact during winter. Snow and ice add weight that sits there for months, and temperature changes make small problems worse.
Before snow arrives, you should inspect your roof:
Look for missing or damaged shingles.
Check for rust or cracks around vents and flashing.
Inspect the roofline for sagging.
Remove dark streaks or algae that trap moisture.
Have a chimney specialist clean and inspect your flue and cap. Make sure flashing is secure to prevent leaks. If your roof has a lot of algae or dirt built up, you can request a quote for power washing to safely and effectively clean it before winter sets in.
5. Drain and Store Outdoor Hoses and Equipment
Water expands when it freezes, which is why pipes burst when they aren’t insulated properly.
To prevent major damage, take time to drain and store outdoor water accessories:
Disconnect and drain all hoses.
Shut off exterior water valves inside your home.
Open outdoor spigots to release trapped water.
Store your hoses indoors.
If you have an irrigation system, be sure to have it winterized before the first freeze.
On a related note, it’s also best to store tools, furniture, and grills in a dry space. If your grill or patio furniture stays outside, cover it and move it away from your siding to avoid moisture buildup extend its life.
6. Check Walkways and Driveways
Freezing water also expands inside cracks, which can breaking concrete and asphalt. It’s much cheaper to fix small issues now, before they grow into bigger problems.
Walk your property and look for:
Cracks or gaps in pavement.
Loose steps or pavers.
Weak railings or unstable handholds.
Seal cracks with filler or patching compound.
If you find loose railings or steps, those can be dangerous once ice forms. While you can also use salt or other de-icing products to help, the safest option is to repair those problems before we get a bunch of snow.
7. Inspect Ventilation and Insulation
Good attic ventilation prevents ice dams and moisture damage. When warm air rises into the attic, it melts roof snow, which then refreezes at the edges of your roof.
Check your attic for:
Even, full coverage of insulation.
Clear soffit vents for airflow.
Signs of condensation or frost.
Proper ventilation protects your roof and lowers heating costs, so add insulation or improve airflow if needed.
8. Service Your Heating System and Fireplace
It’s never fun when your boiler or furnace goes out on the coldest night of the year. The best way to prevent that is to have your furnace or boiler inspected before we really get a deep freeze. You should also replace your furnace filters and test your thermostats — make sure they’re programmed to save energy and reduce your heating costs.
If you use a fireplace or wood stove, it’s also smart to schedule a chimney cleaning to check for blockages or creosote buildup. Before you start using your fireplace and furnace more, it’s also the perfect time to replace the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Cold weather increases heating use, so make sure home and family are safe.
9. Trim Trees and Secure Outdoor Fixtures
Snow and wind can easily break weak branches or knock over loose structures. Trim tree limbs near roofs, driveways, and power lines to prevent outages or expensive damage to your home or vehicles. Check and tighten:
Shutters, mailboxes, and light fixtures.
Fence posts and gates.
A quick inspection now prevents damage during winter storms.
10. Stock Up on Winter Supplies
Lastly, now’s the ideal time to get all your winter essentials ready before the first snow:
Keep shovels, roof rakes, and ice melt in easy reach.
Test and service your snow blower if needed. Make sure you have plenty of fuel on hand (your back will thank you later!)
Grab your snow and ice brush and throw it in your car now, because you never know when you’ll need it.
Final Thoughts
A few hours of preparation now will protect your home all winter. Keep water flowing where it should, seal out drafts, and clean surfaces before they freeze.
While many of these things don’t take long, they can literally save thousands of dollars and prevent life-threatening scenarios like power outages or furnace breakdowns during nasty winter nights.
If you think your home could benefit from a power washing before winter, at Britewash we power wash siding, roofs, patio furniture, decks, driveways and more. We’d love to help you out. Give us a call at 207-451-9880 or schedule your service here today!
