As the weather starts to cool down, fall is the perfect time to get your home ready for winter. Taking care of a few things around the house now can help you catch potential problems before freezing temperatures, snow, and ice arrive.

Here are seven things every homeowner should check before winter sets in.

1. Check Your Roof and Gutters

Your roof helps protect your home from rain, snow, and ice. Take a look for missing shingles, visible damage, or areas that may need attention. It is also a good time to clean your gutters and make sure downspouts direct water away from your home’s foundation.

Blocked gutters can cause water to back up, potentially leading to damage around your roofline or home exterior. If your roof or gutters are difficult to reach safely, consider hiring a professional.

2. Protect Your Pipes From Freezing

Freezing temperatures can put exposed pipes at risk, especially in garages, crawl spaces, basements, and other unheated areas.

Before winter arrives, check for exposed plumbing and consider adding insulation where appropriate. Know where your main water shutoff is located, too. If you plan to be away from home during cold weather, take precautions recommended for your home and plumbing system.

Frozen pipes can lead to expensive repairs, so prevention is worth the effort.

3. Have Your Heating System Checked

The last thing anyone wants is for the heat to stop working during a cold spell. Replace your furnace filter according to the manufacturer’s recommendations, check that vents are not blocked, and arrange routine maintenance if needed.

Make sure smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are working, especially if your home uses fuel-burning heating equipment. Keep items away from furnaces, space heaters, and other heat sources.

4. Check Windows and Doors

Walk around your home and look for drafts around windows and doors. Worn weatherstripping, damaged seals, and gaps can let cold air inside and make it harder to keep your home comfortable.

Addressing small problems before winter may help improve comfort and reduce unnecessary heating costs.

5. Trim Trees and Secure Outdoor Items

Strong winds, ice, and heavy snow can put extra stress on trees and outdoor structures. Look for dead or damaged branches near your home, driveway, and walkways. Contact a qualified professional for hazardous branches, especially those near power lines.

It is also a good time to store patio furniture, secure decorations, and put away garden hoses and other seasonal items.

6. Check Your Smoke Detectors and Carbon Monoxide Alarms

As people spend more time indoors during winter, working safety alarms become especially important.

Test your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms, replace batteries or devices as recommended, and make sure alarms are installed in appropriate locations. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for testing and replacement.

These small checks can make a big difference in helping protect your household.

7. Review Your Home Insurance Coverage

Fall is also a good time to review your homeowners insurance. Have you remodeled a room, finished your basement, added a deck, or purchased expensive belongings this year? Changes like these may be worth discussing with your insurance agent.

Make sure you understand your dwelling coverage, deductible, personal property limits, and any exclusions that may apply. Remember that homeowners insurance does not cover every type of damage, and routine maintenance problems may be treated differently from sudden, accidental losses.

A coverage review can help you understand what your policy does and does not cover before you need to file a claim.

Get Your Home Ready for Winter

Preparing your home for colder weather does not have to happen all at once. Start with a few simple checks and work your way through the list before temperatures drop.

While you are getting your home ready for winter, take a few minutes to review your insurance coverage, too.

Need a second look at your home insurance?

Contact SBJW Insurance for a free local insurance review. We can help you go over your current coverage and answer your questions in plain language.

📞 217-214-6814
✉️ sara@sbjwinsurance.us

Insurance coverage varies by policy. Contact your agent to discuss the terms and conditions of your specific policy.