Extreme Maintenance: Home Edition — Winter

Why Winter Maintenance Matters

Winter weather puts unique stress on a home. Snow and ice can pile weight onto your roof, frozen water can split pipes from the inside, and a single icy walkway can lead to a serious fall. Many of these problems are preventable with a little planning before and during the coldest months.

There is an insurance angle, too. Routine maintenance helps you avoid losses in the first place, and it can matter when a claim does happen. In general, many homeowners policies may cover sudden and accidental damage — like a pipe that bursts unexpectedly — while damage that develops gradually or from a lack of upkeep is often excluded. Every policy is different, so the sections below explain the maintenance side; the coverage side is always subject to the terms of your own policy.

Frozen & Burst Pipes

When water freezes inside a pipe it expands, and that pressure can rupture the pipe — sometimes without any sign until the thaw sends water pouring into your home. Burst pipes are one of the more common winter home-insurance claims, according to the Insurance Information Institute. A few habits go a long way toward preventing them:

• Keep the heat on. Maintain a steady indoor temperature, even when you are away, and never let an empty home go cold during a Finger Lakes freeze. If you travel for the winter, keep the thermostat set to a safe minimum and consider having someone check the house.
• Insulate exposed pipes. Add foam pipe sleeves or insulation to pipes in unheated basements, crawl spaces, attics, garages, and along exterior walls.
• Let faucets drip. During hard freezes, letting a faucet trickle keeps water moving and relieves pressure, which can help prevent a freeze-up.
• Open cabinet doors. Letting warm air reach pipes under sinks — especially those on exterior walls — helps keep them above freezing.
• Know your main shut-off. Find your water main shut-off valve now, while it is calm, and confirm everyone in the household knows where it is. If a pipe bursts, shutting the water off quickly can dramatically reduce the damage.

Ice Dams

An ice dam is a ridge of ice that builds up at the edge of a roof and stops melting snow from draining off. The trapped water can back up under the shingles and find its way into the attic, ceilings, and walls — leading to stains, mold, and structural damage.

Ice dams usually form because of a temperature difference on the roof: heat escaping into the attic melts snow on the upper roof, and that water refreezes when it reaches the colder eaves. Poor attic insulation and ventilation are common culprits. To reduce the risk:

• Improve attic insulation and ventilation so the roof surface stays a more even temperature.
• Seal attic air leaks around light fixtures, ducts, and the attic hatch to keep warm air from rising into the attic.
• Use a roof rake to pull snow off the lower few feet of the roof from the ground after heavy snowfalls, removing the snow that feeds the dam.
• Keep gutters and downspouts clear so meltwater has somewhere to go.

Roof Snow Load

During winter, snow and ice can accumulate on the roof and add significant weight. In extreme cases this can contribute to a structural collapse, and snow that slides off a roof can damage decks, vehicles, or landscaping below. Wet, heavy snow and layered ice weigh far more than light, dry snow, so the danger is not always obvious from the depth alone.

Be mindful of how much has built up, and watch for warning signs of an overloaded roof:

• Sagging ceilings or rooflines
• New cracks in drywall or around door frames
• Doors or windows that suddenly stick
• Creaking or popping sounds from the structure

If you need to reduce the load, consider hiring a professional rather than climbing onto an icy, sloped roof. For winter-storm safety guidance, the National Weather Service and FEMA’s Ready.gov offer helpful resources.

Heating, Carbon Monoxide & Chimney Safety

Your heating system works hardest in the dead of a New York winter, so it pays to keep it in good shape — both to prevent a breakdown when you need it most and to reduce fire and carbon monoxide risks.

• Service your furnace or boiler before the season begins, and change furnace filters regularly through the winter.
• Test carbon monoxide and smoke detectors. Carbon monoxide is odorless and colorless, and the risk rises in winter when homes are sealed up and heating appliances run constantly. Replace batteries and test alarms on a schedule.
• Have chimneys and flues inspected and cleaned. If you heat with wood, creosote buildup is a fire hazard; a clear, well-maintained flue also vents combustion gases safely.
• Use space heaters carefully. Keep them away from anything flammable, plug them directly into the wall, and turn them off when you leave the room or go to sleep.

Outdoor Faucets, Gutters & Walkways

Some of the most important winter prep happens outside the house. These tasks help prevent both property damage and the kind of slip-and-fall injuries that can create liability concerns for a homeowner.

• Disconnect and drain garden hoses, and shut off and drain outdoor faucets (hose bibs) so trapped water cannot freeze and crack the line or the connected interior pipe.
• Clean your gutters in late fall so meltwater drains freely instead of backing up and contributing to ice dams.
• Keep walkways, steps, and driveways clear. Shovel promptly and treat icy spots with salt or sand. A guest, delivery driver, or passerby who slips on an icy walkway could be injured, and a homeowner may face a liability claim — one reason consistent ice management matters.
• Trim hazardous branches. Heavy snow and ice can bring down weak or overhanging limbs onto your roof, vehicles, or power lines.

The liability portion of a homeowners policy may help respond to certain claims if a visitor is injured on your property, subject to the terms and limits of your policy. You can read more on our homeowners insurance page.

Frequently Asked Questions