Winter home care
Your First-Year
Winter Checklist
Winter maintenance is mostly about watching,
not doing — catching small problems from cold
and moisture before they become expensive ones.
Protect the home
before winter
tests it.
NORTHERN VIRGINIA · WINTER
Cold temperatures, snow, and moisture can stress every system in your home. A little attention now helps you avoid costly repairs later and keeps your home comfortable all season long.
Prevent Frozen
& Burst Pipes
Know where your main water shutoff valve is.
Run a trickle of cold water during hard freezes below 20°F.
Open sink cabinets on exterior walls during cold snaps.
Disconnect and drain exterior hoses.
EXTERIOR
Managing
Snow & Ice
ROOF EDGES
Clear snow from roof edges when you have easy, safe access.
GUTTERS
Watch for icicles along the gutter line. They can signal ice dams.
FOUNDATION
Don’t pile shoveled snow against the foundation or HVAC unit.
HVAC
Keep at least a foot of clearance around your outdoor unit.
Keep an Eye
on the Inside.
HEATING
Uneven heating, strange smells, or a system that runs constantly are signs worth addressing before it fails.
FILTER
Check your furnace filter mid-season. Winter is when your system runs its hardest.
HUMIDITY
30–40%
Ideal winter relative humidity.
WINDOWS
Check for heavy condensation on windows, which can signal humidity or ventilation needs attention.
Small Things.
Big Difference.
01
Test your sump pump if you have one, especially before a storm with snowmelt expected.
02
Check weatherstripping on doors you noticed drafts on in fall.
your first year
Document what
your home tells you.
If a first-year issue shows up this winter—a leak,
a system failure, or ice damming—document it
with photos and dates.
HOME WARRANTY
INSURANCE
HOME
HISTORY
NEED A PROFESSIONAL?
Not sure whether
something needs attention?
If something on your winter checklist doesn’t look right, reach out and I’ll help point you in the right direction.
Need a Recommendation?
Every home is different, and so is every fix. If any of the checklists in this guide turned up something you're not sure how to handle yourself — a roofer, an HVAC tech, a plumber, a foundation specialist, anyone — reach out and I'm happy to point you toward someone I trust.
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I can help connect you with trusted local professionals, including roofers, plumbers, HVAC technicians, foundation specialists, electricians, and other home service providers.
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I only share recommendations based on who I trust at the time you ask. My goal is to point you toward someone I would feel comfortable calling for my own home.
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Yes. Businesses change, service quality can change, and my experience with a company may change over time. Because of that, my recommendations may also evolve.
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They may have asked at a different time. Rather than relying on an old list, I prefer to give you the professional I currently feel best about for the job.
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Just reach out and tell me what’s going on. If you’re not sure whether you need a plumber, roofer, HVAC professional, or another specialist, I can help point you in the right direction.
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Definitely. You don’t need to wait for a major repair. If something from your maintenance checklist doesn’t look quite right, feel free to ask before it turns into a bigger issue.