Scary Time of Year for Homeowners

As fall dies off and winter creeps in, the end of October can be an unsettling time of year for homeowners. Not only is it the season for ghosts and goblins, it's also a period of transition from falling leaves to drifting snow. Therefore, to avoid problems when the temperature plummets, it's wise to winterize your house. Most people forget, or choose to ignore, this chore and pay for it later with floods, leaks, or chilly nights. In horror movies there's always time to plan before the attack, and the same goes for homeowners: In order to avoid a household scare, it's a good idea to prepare.

Beware of Swamp Thing
In the winter, your plumbing becomes extremely vulnerable. As the temperatures drop, water inside the pipes freeze and expand, creating enough pressure to break open and flood your house. Homes in warmer regions are actually more at risk because the plumbing may not be adequately insulated. Before winter hits, cover pipes with insulation or wrap them in heat tape, and on particularly cold nights, leave cabinet doors open and let the faucet drip a little bit. The same thing can occur in swamp coolers: If waterlines aren't drained, they'll occasionally freeze and burst. And since they're often located on top of the house, your entire attic and upstairs are susceptible to water damage. So make sure to empty the lines and cover up these coolers before the snow arrives.

Invasions from Above
The top of your home takes its share of abuse in the summer: rain, hail, sunlight. But in the winter it takes on a whole new burden: snow build-up. Before autumn ends, inspect your roof for any shortcomings. If there are missing or damaged shingles, immediately call an expert, or your insurance company, about repairs and replacement. Make sure the flashings around your chimney are water-tight and that the chimney itself is free of cracks. Also, it's called fall for a reason; now is the perfect time to clear the leaves from your gutters. If they aren't clean, the extra weight of the freezing snow can quickly bring them down. Additionally, make sure overhanging limbs are cut back, and downspouts are free of debris and pointed away from the house.

A Nightmare on Your Street
The outside of your home should protect you from winter dangers, but your exterior could easily become a defenseless nightmare if not properly winterized. Therefore, remember two tactics: drain and take cover. Like plumbing, if an irrigation system isn't drained, the excess water will freeze, expand, and damage your sprinkler. Often there's a valve that can be released to empty the water, but blowing out your sprinklers is a surefire way to remove moisture. Though air compressors often work they don't use enough pressure, so hire a professional. Also, detach hoses from around the house: Not only does it hurt the tubing, but attached hoses could create pressure in the pipes and cause a break in the line. Additionally, seal up your decks and patios one last time and cover up or bring inside any helpless elements, such as plants and lawn furniture.

Phantom of the Threshold
Nothing is more eerie than the howl of a winter night, and nothing is more comforting than knowing you're guarded against those bone-chilling winds. But to make sure you and your heating bills are safe, try to detect and seal any invisible drafts that may go bump in the night. The best way to find a leak around windows and doors is to place a candle near the joints and edges to see if it remains lit. If it blows out, you now know where you're vulnerable. For doors, the best defense is to replace weatherstripping or doorstops. But around windows, though you could always tape plastic around the glass, it looks and protects better to caulk the gaps and install a storm window when you can. Also, this is a great time to bulk up on insulation, especially around your pipes and in your attic.

Night of the Not-So-Living Dead
There's nothing worse than waking up on that first cold morning to discover your furnace has died overnight. To avoid the nightly chills and sudden shivers, you'll want to have a professional inspect your furnace, pilot light, and duct system before winter. It doesn't hurt to give your HVAC a test run to see if it's still alive and kicking or needs life support: If so, it's time to call a pro. But something you can do on your own is replace the filter, vacuum dust or remove obstacles from around vents, and test your smoke and carbon monoxide alarm. Plus, if you admire a winter fire, you should always get your chimney cleaned and inspected annually.