5 Weekend Projects That Can Save You Thousands in Winter Damage

Kate McGregor
·4-min read
house with snow in winter
How to Protect Your Home From Winter DamageYellow Dog Productions - Getty Images


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Home maintenance is a full-time job, but in the winter, it feels like your to-do list for household tasks grows exponentially. Falling leaves, unpredictable weather, and increased energy usage all place additional demands on your home as temperatures drop. Taking extra care of your property during winter is crucial to prevent damage.

Harsh winter weather can lead to expensive issues, such as burst pipes, leaky roofs, and clogged gutters, costing homeowners thousands of dollars in repairs each year. Fortunately, you can undertake several projects now to help avoid these expenses. To help you stay proactive against seasonal wear and tear, we asked Mike Thomas, the storm restoration program lead at GAF, and Angie Hicks, cofounder of Angi about the tasks that homeowners can tackle in a weekend. Read on to learn more about five home projects that'll help save you money and protect your home this winter.

Clean Your Gutters

Your gutters are supposed to direct rainwater and melting snow away from your home, but when bent, blocked, too full, or damaged, they may do the opposite.

“Gutters may seem like an easy DIY job, but a professional cleaning can prevent thousands of dollars in water damage,” says Hicks. If your gutters are clogged with debris when a winter storm rolls in, water can seep into your home’s exterior walls, foundation, and even your basement.

It’s recommended that homeowners clean their gutters twice a year (we suggest before the fall and right as spring starts). A gutter repair, on the lower end of costs on this list, will run homeowners an average of $500, but water damage is much more expensive, with an average range of between $1,350 and $6,274, according to Angi’s data.

Blow Out Your Sprinklers

Gardening maintenance tasks are few and far between in the winter months, but that doesn’t mean you can fully be hands-off in your outdoor space. For those with an in-ground irrigation (or sprinkler) system, you’ll want to “blow out” the excess water in the system before powering it down for the off-season.

When the water that's sitting in your pipes turns into ice, it can crack not only the pipes but also damage the sprinkler heads. You should remove as much water as possible to prevent this from happening.

Protect Your Pipes

There are few things worse than coming home from vacation or waking up to a massive leak caused by a burst pipe in your home. A common but serious winter problem, plumbing pipes can burst when sitting water freezes and expands, becoming too large for the pipes to hold. According to Angi, the nationwide average cost to repair a burst pipe is between $200 and $3,000, depending on the extent of the damage.

To avoid this problem (especially if you're traveling during the colder months), make sure to set your thermostat above 55 degrees Fahrenheit and insulate your pipes in unheated areas like attics, garages, and basements. If you're planning to be away from home for a short amount of time, you can also let any faucets with uninsulated pipes trickle water to prevent pressure from building up.

Close Down Your Pool

Unless you live in a mild climate or have a heated system, your swimming pool probably has an off-season. Winterizing your swimming pool can help increase the longevity of your investment and streamline the necessary maintenance you'll have to do in the spring. This process involves a deep clean, rebalancing the chemicals in the water, and doing a shock treatment to kill any bacteria that may grow while the pool sits unused.

To protect your pool pump, similar to how you winterize your sprinkler system, you’ll want to flush out the pump. Reinstalling your pool cover is the final step to protect your pool throughout the winter season.

Make Roof Repairs

Scheduling necessary roof repairs as soon as possible is crucial for overall home protection. According to Thomas, it's essential for preventing water damage, but it also helps ensure that ice dams won't form and trap water from effectively draining.

Proper roof upgrades can also ensure that your attic’s ventilation is balanced which can help your home’s overall efficiency and airflow. Thomas recommends heat tape or ice-melt systems for homes in cold-weather areas, along with snow guards to protect you and your family from any falling debris.

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