It's hard to believe that snow and ice are just around the corner. Our winters can be pretty harsh on us, let alone our homes. The dark mornings have already begun, and soon enough we'll be shovelling walks—or making snow forts out back—depending on how much you actually enjoy the weather. As homeowners, though, reality sets in and things need to be done. While new homes are built to be more efficient, there are still some tasks you can complete to ensure your home is protected and ready for the grating winter season ahead.

Check Your Roof 

Your roof will go through some pretty nasty things this winter, from snow and moisture, to wind and sleet. All of these items are what your roof is designed for in order to protect your home from moisture damage. 

Before the snow flies, you'll want to make a thorough inspection of your shingles, eaves, and other rooftop accessories. Look for any damage that may compromise the function of your roof's protective barrier. If shingles are missing or damaged, repair or replace them. Ensure your eaves are securely fastened to your home's roofline and that your shingles stretch out over the eave as intended. If your home didn't come with a drip edge, consider having one installed to help wick water away from the home and into the eaves.

Clean Gutters 

If your area has trees that reach the rooftops, you may have dead leaves collecting in your gutters. Summer storms may have blown other debris into your gutters as well, causing blockages and yielding your eaves nonfunctional. To protect your home from moisture and ensure water is being directed away from your home, you'll want to ensure your gutters are clean and free of any debris. If you prefer, you can also install gutter protectors on your home that guard your eaves from debris but still allow water to trickle into the system and away from your home.

Your downspouts are also an important part of this water redirection system on your home. Ensure your downspouts are down through the winter season so when the snow melts, it will be redirected away from your home. If your downspouts are in their upright position, water is draining directly back to your foundation, which puts your home at risk for basement leaks. Be sure when your downspouts are down, they direct water at least 3 feet away from your foundation. Install extensions if necessary.

Instead of Raking Leaves, Mulch Them 

Autumn leaves are a great opportunity to set your lawn up to be healthy next year. Instead of the daunting task of raking and bagging your leaves, mulch them into dime-sized pieces that will fall among the grass blades. They'll decompose and nature will take over, nourishing your lawn over the winter and giving it an extra healthy boost for spring.

Remove Hoses from Hose Bibs 

This one is very important. If you leave your hose attached to your hose bib over winter, water can back up into your hose bib on the interior side of the pipe and freeze, causing cracks in your hose bib. This puts you at risk for water seeping back into your home and causing water damage in your basement. Be sure to remove all hoses from hose bibs prior to the first frost.

You can still technically use your hose bib throughout the winter, but it cannot have a hose attached to it.

Don't Prune Trees or Shrubs Just Yet 

You might be tempted to get out the shears once the leaves have fallen, but your trees and shrubs aren't quite dormant yet. Wait until late winter, just before spring growth, to prune your trees and shrubs. They'll be much healthier come next budding season.

Test Your Sump Pump – Prevent the Outside from Coming In 

Because winter brings concentrated amounts of moisture, you'll want to ensure your sump pump is in full working order before the spring melt. Slowly pour several gallons of water into the sump pit to see if the pump turns on as it should. This is something you should do each time you change your furnace filter, but if you don't, at the very least it should be completed just before winter arrives. This gives you time to get it repaired before it's absolutely needed to protect your basement from flooding.

The winter season is pretty invasive when it comes to our homes, but today's houses are constructed with protections in place. More particularly, you can enjoy the low-maintenance features of custom living in a custom home. Thus, as long as we maintain these systems as homeowners, we can ensure our investment is secure and our homes will be well protected from anything Old Man Winter can throw at us.

Photo credits: mittens, repairs, maintenance