Winter Home Maintenance & Planning Guide
Winter in Wisconsin can be picturesque with its snow-covered landscapes and frosty charm. However, the cold weather and snow also bring a fair share of challenges for homeowners.
To ensure your home stays cozy and well-maintained throughout the winter season, the Fox Cities home repair experts at Lueck’s Home Improvements are here with some essential winter home maintenance tips.
Winter Home Maintenance Checklist
Let’s dive into a few of the easy things you can do to keep your home in tip-top shape throughout the winter season. Whether it's insulating against the cold, preventing frozen pipes, or ensuring your heating system is in top condition, a little preparation can go a long way in making your winter months more comfortable and worry-free.
Check and Insulate Windows and Doors
Wisconsin winters can be brutally cold, and the last thing you want is drafts seeping into your home. Taking some time to inspect your windows and doorways and sealing them tight will keep your home warmer and reduce your monthly heat bills.
Storm doors provide an additional layer of insulation and protection for your main entry doors. They help minimize drafts and enhance energy efficiency.
Inspect Your Roof
Heavy snow and ice accumulation can take a toll on your roof. Inspecting it on a regular basis can save you money on huge repairs or insurance claims due to leaks or collapse.
Inspect and Reinforce Siding
The siding of your home acts as a protective barrier against the elements. Keep a close eye on it throughout the winter to avoid any major structural concerns.
Snow and ice can cause damage to the walkways, driveways, and siding around your home. It’s important to keep these areas as clear as possible to prevent mold, mildew, cracking, corrosion, and other damage.
Your heating system works overtime during Wisconsin winters.
Frozen pipes are common here in the Oshkosh area and can lead to costly damage. Taking steps to make sure your pipes and plumbing are protected from the snow is a must during the cold months.
With heating systems working overtime, it's crucial to ensure your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are in working order. It’s literally a lifesaver.
While the above winter home maintenance checklist should help keep your home in top shape, it’s important to note that winter home maintenance is an ongoing process. It may lead you to uncover more extensive home improvement projects or opportunities.
With that in mind, here are just a few tips to help with planning for winter home improvement projects.
Don’t Wait Until It’s Snowing
Start prepping for winter in late summer and early fall to ensure you can complete timely repairs and projects before temperatures and snow become an issue. Thinking ahead also allows for time to get professionals (like Lueck’s) involved if need be.
While many of us like to avoid thinking about winter as long as possible, the time to make repairs and upgrades to your home’s exterior doors, windows, and siding is before the temperatures drop.
Depending on the project and our team’s schedule, it can take a few weeks for your custom order to arrive. You’ll be glad you thought ahead when the windchill gets below freezing and you’re warm and toasty with your new energy-efficient doors and windows.
Keep a Consistent Home Maintenance Schedule
Winter home maintenance is an ongoing thing. We recommend taking a quick walk around your property about 1-2 times a month and before and after any significant winter weather. During this time, you can go through the above checklist as needed, look for any signs of damage, and fix any issues. Catching and addressing issues early will help minimize the chance of significant issues.
Consider setting reminders on your phone or using an app to help keep home maintenance and check-ins top of mind. You can also take notes and pictures to keep track of less time-sensitive repairs and issues.
Prepare for Winter Emergencies & Delays
Make sure you have a well-stocked emergency kit with essentials in case of power outages or severe weather during the winter months.
Your emergency kit should include blankets, flashlights, batteries, and non-perishable food items. However, you may also want to consider stocking up on basic home repair essentials like duct tape, electrical tape, caulk, nails, screws, wood glue, buckets, gloves, and tarps.
These essentials can help if you have a home emergency and road conditions are unsafe. Plumbers, HVAC specialists, and home repair professionals usually have a long customer waiting list after a big snowstorm or freeze, so you’ll want the essentials to keep you in your best condition for as long as possible.
Don’t Wait Until Spring to Schedule Exterior Home Improvements
After being cooped up indoors, many homeowners start dreaming of home repairs and renovations. Winter is the perfect time to get those projects started — or at least scheduled!
Here at Lueck’s, we tend to get a lot of calls during the spring and summer months from homeowners around Oshkosh, Neenah, and Appleton. Calendars fill up fast, and supplies are often out of stock or back-ordered.
By calling and planning for spring projects while we’re still in the winter months, you avoid the rush and ensure the best availability and pricing. Plus, you’ll be able to budget and plan your family’s schedule to align with the repairs or improvements as well.
Partner With the Fox Cities' Home Improvement Specialists
If you’re looking to upgrade your home or want some support with winter home maintenance, the team at Lueck’s has your back. With more than 60 years of serving the Fox Valley area, we can help with doors, windows, railings, awnings, sunrooms, and so much more.
Contact us today for a free, no-hassle estimate — or stop by our showroom on Harrison Street in Oshkosh.
To ensure your home stays cozy and well-maintained throughout the winter season, the Fox Cities home repair experts at Lueck’s Home Improvements are here with some essential winter home maintenance tips.
Winter Home Maintenance Checklist
Let’s dive into a few of the easy things you can do to keep your home in tip-top shape throughout the winter season. Whether it's insulating against the cold, preventing frozen pipes, or ensuring your heating system is in top condition, a little preparation can go a long way in making your winter months more comfortable and worry-free.
Check and Insulate Windows and Doors
Wisconsin winters can be brutally cold, and the last thing you want is drafts seeping into your home. Taking some time to inspect your windows and doorways and sealing them tight will keep your home warmer and reduce your monthly heat bills.
- Inspect windows and exterior doors for any gaps or cracks and seal them with weatherstripping or caulking.
- Consider using thermal curtains and draft stoppers to add an extra layer of insulation.
- Fix any broken windows or screens.
- Clean and lubricate door hinges and locks with a silicone-based lubricant to ensure smooth operation, prevent freezing, and avoid unnecessary wear and tear.
Storm doors provide an additional layer of insulation and protection for your main entry doors. They help minimize drafts and enhance energy efficiency.
- Choose a storm door with good insulation properties to maximize its effectiveness during the winter months.
Inspect Your Roof
Heavy snow and ice accumulation can take a toll on your roof. Inspecting it on a regular basis can save you money on huge repairs or insurance claims due to leaks or collapse.
- Inspect the roof for damaged or missing shingles.
- Clean out your gutters to prevent ice dams, which can lead to water damage.
- If your roof is prone to ice dams, consider installing heating cables to melt snow and ice.
Inspect and Reinforce Siding
The siding of your home acts as a protective barrier against the elements. Keep a close eye on it throughout the winter to avoid any major structural concerns.
- Check for any loose or damaged siding panels and repair or replace them as needed.
- Reinforce the siding to ensure it can withstand the weight of snow and resist the impact of winter storms.
Snow and ice can cause damage to the walkways, driveways, and siding around your home. It’s important to keep these areas as clear as possible to prevent mold, mildew, cracking, corrosion, and other damage.
- Regularly shovel snow from walkways and driveways to prevent ice buildup.
- Use ice melt or sand on slippery surfaces.
- Avoid snow blowing or plowing snow against your home or outbuildings.
- Keep pathways well-lit to avoid accidents during the darker winter months.
- Use waterproof protective coatings and sealants on railings, shutters, and wood structures.
- Remove snow from trees near your buildings to prevent them from collapsing under the weight
Your heating system works overtime during Wisconsin winters.
- Schedule a professional inspection and maintenance for your furnace or heating system.
- Replace filters regularly to ensure efficient operation.
- If you have a fireplace, have the chimney cleaned and inspected.
Frozen pipes are common here in the Oshkosh area and can lead to costly damage. Taking steps to make sure your pipes and plumbing are protected from the snow is a must during the cold months.
- Insulate pipes in unheated areas of your home, such as the attic or crawl spaces.
- Allow faucets to drip during extremely cold nights to prevent pipes from freezing.
- If you plan to be away, set your thermostat to a minimum temperature.
With heating systems working overtime, it's crucial to ensure your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are in working order. It’s literally a lifesaver.
- Test them regularly and replace batteries as needed.
- If need be, replace or upgrade the whole detector system.
While the above winter home maintenance checklist should help keep your home in top shape, it’s important to note that winter home maintenance is an ongoing process. It may lead you to uncover more extensive home improvement projects or opportunities.
With that in mind, here are just a few tips to help with planning for winter home improvement projects.
Don’t Wait Until It’s Snowing
Start prepping for winter in late summer and early fall to ensure you can complete timely repairs and projects before temperatures and snow become an issue. Thinking ahead also allows for time to get professionals (like Lueck’s) involved if need be.
While many of us like to avoid thinking about winter as long as possible, the time to make repairs and upgrades to your home’s exterior doors, windows, and siding is before the temperatures drop.
Depending on the project and our team’s schedule, it can take a few weeks for your custom order to arrive. You’ll be glad you thought ahead when the windchill gets below freezing and you’re warm and toasty with your new energy-efficient doors and windows.
Keep a Consistent Home Maintenance Schedule
Winter home maintenance is an ongoing thing. We recommend taking a quick walk around your property about 1-2 times a month and before and after any significant winter weather. During this time, you can go through the above checklist as needed, look for any signs of damage, and fix any issues. Catching and addressing issues early will help minimize the chance of significant issues.
Consider setting reminders on your phone or using an app to help keep home maintenance and check-ins top of mind. You can also take notes and pictures to keep track of less time-sensitive repairs and issues.
Prepare for Winter Emergencies & Delays
Make sure you have a well-stocked emergency kit with essentials in case of power outages or severe weather during the winter months.
Your emergency kit should include blankets, flashlights, batteries, and non-perishable food items. However, you may also want to consider stocking up on basic home repair essentials like duct tape, electrical tape, caulk, nails, screws, wood glue, buckets, gloves, and tarps.
These essentials can help if you have a home emergency and road conditions are unsafe. Plumbers, HVAC specialists, and home repair professionals usually have a long customer waiting list after a big snowstorm or freeze, so you’ll want the essentials to keep you in your best condition for as long as possible.
Don’t Wait Until Spring to Schedule Exterior Home Improvements
After being cooped up indoors, many homeowners start dreaming of home repairs and renovations. Winter is the perfect time to get those projects started — or at least scheduled!
Here at Lueck’s, we tend to get a lot of calls during the spring and summer months from homeowners around Oshkosh, Neenah, and Appleton. Calendars fill up fast, and supplies are often out of stock or back-ordered.
By calling and planning for spring projects while we’re still in the winter months, you avoid the rush and ensure the best availability and pricing. Plus, you’ll be able to budget and plan your family’s schedule to align with the repairs or improvements as well.
Partner With the Fox Cities' Home Improvement Specialists
If you’re looking to upgrade your home or want some support with winter home maintenance, the team at Lueck’s has your back. With more than 60 years of serving the Fox Valley area, we can help with doors, windows, railings, awnings, sunrooms, and so much more.
Contact us today for a free, no-hassle estimate — or stop by our showroom on Harrison Street in Oshkosh.
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