If you own a home in a seasonal area — whether it’s new or just new-to-you — you might be getting ready for the colder weather sometime soon. You love your home, and it’s important to prepare and protect it as best you can from damage of all kinds. The winter season can be beautiful and cozy, but it also has the potential to bring some damage to your home.

If you want to keep on the lookout and stay prepared for whatever’s to come, here are some of the things you can look out for when the weather starts to turn.

1.   Structural Damage

One of the primary concerns with any kind of damage to your home is that it can impact the foundation or the structure of your home. Things like water damage, ice, and unforeseen weather circumstances can cause structural ruptures and damage to the foundation.

 Some of the best ways to prevent this are keeping on top of your landscaping, extending downspouts away from your house, and grading your yard so that the soil slopes away from your home.

2.   Ice Strain on the Roof

If you live in an area that routinely experiences snow and ice, one of the primary issues you may have to worry about in the wintertime is the strain of ice and snow on the roof. Between condensation and freezing temperatures, ice dams can lead to roof leaks and strong winds can loosen shingles.

In order to prevent this, it’s important to have your roof checked regularly to make sure it’s waterproof. If you notice a problem at any point, try to take care of it as soon as possible so that it doesn’t develop any further.

3.   Leaks

Your roof is not the only thing that can lead to leaking in your home throughout the wintertime. Yes, leaks in the roof are an issue, but it’s also important to remember that cold can crack the caulk used around windows, melting snow can leak into the basement, and other kinds of damage can ensue as a result of cold weather. Make sure, before winter starts, that you address any gaps in insulation before they become a problem.

4.   Broken Pipes

Another common issue that the winter can bring is damage to the pipes and water systems in your house. Especially if the temperatures get below freezing, pipes can burst and cause all kinds of plumbing problems.

One of the best fixes for this is insulating exposed pipes using heat tape or foam pipe insulation. Also, make sure you keep the heat circulating and put your faucet on a slow drip in order to keep water flowing so that the pipes don’t stagnate.

5.   Condensation and Water Damage

Since there are so many water-related issues that can ensue from winter, this one might not come as a surprise to you. One of the most common forms of water damage in homes is condensation throughout the walls. This can come as a result of moisture spreading where it doesn’t belong.

Make sure that if this does become an issue, you isolate the source of the moisture to avoid mold and other forms of damage.

Winter Damage and Avoiding It

Winter damage can be a difficult thing to deal with, but you can stay prepared for all of the forms it comes in so you can take care of your home to the best of your ability. Is your home winter-ready this year?

Guest Contributor: Rose Morrison