Our homes provide us shelter and warmth from the cold, rain and snow that Mother Nature delivers every winter. This year, Richmond, Virginia has had record high amounts of rain and a snowstorm that dumped more snow in one day than we have seen in 8 years combined! You can easily protect your home investment by performing these few basic home maintenance tasks…

Be sure your yard’s irrigation system is winterized prior to freezing temperatures.If you have not already done this and you’ve been lucky enough that no pipes have burst, we recommend that you immediately turn off the supply valves (often found at the meter) and open the backflow preventer, then call an irrigation contractor to finish the winterization process.

Keep all exterior hose bibs free from freeze breaks. Shut off the hose bib supply valve (typically located in the garage) and open the hose bib valves.

Check/clean gutters and downspouts. The gutters should be collecting water from your roof and safely diverting it down and away from the house. Clogged gutters mean the water will not flow away from the house and will fall right next to your foundation. You should inspect them routinely and remove any blockage. Also, make sure your splash blocks and downspouts are positioned properly to drain the water a minimum of five feet away from your home’s foundation.

Periodically check for leaks. You should inspect your roof for missing or damaged shingles and if found, have them replaced or repaired immediately. Also, look in the attic for water stains or wet insulation. You should check all exterior doors regularly; caulking should be intact under thresholds and around the doors. Be sure weather strips are not damaged and sealing tightly when the door is closed; if not, adjustments should be made. In heavy or driving rains, water may penetrate to the interior, so check them often and immediately clean away any water off floors to prevent damage.