Minnesota winters can expose small home-maintenance concerns before homeowners realize there is a problem. Heavy snow, ice, strong winds and prolonged subzero temperatures can affect roofing, plumbing, heating equipment and other parts of the home.
Preparing early can help you improve comfort, reduce energy loss and avoid preventable winter damage. Use this Minnesota winter home-maintenance checklist before temperatures begin to fall.
1. Inspect Your Roof Before Snow Arrives
Your roof becomes much more difficult and dangerous to evaluate after it is covered with snow or ice.
From the ground, look for:
- Missing, damaged or lifted shingles
- Loose flashing around chimneys and roof penetrations
- Sagging or uneven roof areas
- Damaged gutters or downspouts
- Tree branches contacting the roof
- Interior ceiling stains that could indicate a previous leak
Avoid walking on a steep, wet, frosted or snow-covered roof. Read our guide to the safest way to inspect your roof or contact a qualified professional when closer evaluation is necessary.
2. Clean Gutters and Check Downspouts
Remove leaves, sticks and other debris from gutters before temperatures fall below freezing. Confirm that downspouts are securely attached and direct water away from the foundation.
Clean gutters allow melting snow and rainwater to drain more effectively. However, gutters alone do not prevent ice dams.
Ice dams usually develop when heated indoor air leaks into the attic and warms the roof. Snow melts over the warmer portion of the roof and then freezes again near the colder eaves. According to the Minnesota Department of Commerce, improving attic air sealing and insulation is one of the most effective long-term ways to reduce ice-dam formation.
3. Examine the Attic
Your attic plays an important role in protecting the home during a Minnesota winter.
Look for:
- Uneven or compressed insulation
- Gaps around plumbing, wiring and other penetrations
- Signs of roof leakage or moisture
- Frost on roofing nails or roof sheathing
- Bathroom or kitchen exhaust fans venting into the attic
- Blocked soffit vents
- Evidence of pests
Frost, damp insulation or dark staining may indicate excess moisture, inadequate ventilation or warm indoor air escaping into the attic.
Do not block soffit vents when adding insulation. If you are uncertain about the condition of the attic, consult an insulation, energy-audit or other qualified professional.
4. Service Your Heating System
Do not wait until the first subzero night to discover that your furnace or boiler is not working properly.
Before winter:
- Schedule professional maintenance when recommended.
- Replace or clean the furnace filter.
- Confirm that supply and return-air registers are open and unobstructed.
- Test the thermostat.
- Listen for unusual noises.
- Watch for short cycling or inconsistent temperatures.
- Keep combustible materials away from heating equipment.
The U.S. Department of Energy recommends regular heating-system maintenance and cleaning or replacing furnace and heat-pump filters as part of an effective home energy checklist.
If your home has a fireplace, wood stove or fuel-burning appliance, winter is also an important time to confirm that the venting system is operating safely.
5. Inspect the Fireplace and Chimney
A chimney may develop deterioration, moisture damage, animal nesting or an internal obstruction that is not readily visible from the living area.
Warning signs can include:
- Cracked or missing masonry
- A damaged chimney cap
- Water staining near the fireplace
- Loose or missing flashing
- Smoke entering the room
- Strong or unusual odors
- Poor drafting
- Pieces of tile or masonry in the firebox
Review these chimney inspection warning signs before using your fireplace. If a more detailed evaluation is appropriate, learn about the chimney inspection services offered by Inspecta-Homes.
6. Seal Drafts Around Windows and Doors
Cold air entering around windows and doors can increase heating costs and make rooms uncomfortable.
Check for:
- Deteriorated caulking
- Damaged or missing weatherstripping
- Cracked glass
- Loose window components
- Rot or deterioration around frames
- Doors that do not close or latch properly
- Visible gaps around exterior trim
Caulk appropriate exterior gaps and replace damaged weatherstripping. Storm windows, insulating window film and properly fitted window coverings may also help in particularly drafty areas.
Use our complete guide to checking windows and doors before a Minnesota winter for a more detailed inspection.
7. Protect Your Plumbing From Freezing
Water-supply pipes in exterior walls, crawl spaces, garages and other poorly heated areas may be especially vulnerable during extended periods of extreme cold.
Before winter:
- Insulate vulnerable hot and cold water-supply lines.
- Disconnect garden hoses.
- Shut off and drain exterior water lines when the system allows.
- Install insulated outdoor faucet covers.
- Keep garage doors closed when water lines run through the garage.
- Seal openings that allow cold air to reach plumbing.
- Locate and test the accessibility of your main water shutoff valve.
During extreme cold, opening sink-cabinet doors can help warm air circulate around plumbing located near exterior walls. A small trickle from a faucet served by a vulnerable pipe may also help under appropriate conditions.
Read our complete guide on how to prevent frozen pipes in Minnesota.
8. Winterize Exterior Faucets and Irrigation Systems
A connected garden hose can trap water inside the faucet or supply line. When that water freezes and expands, it may damage the faucet, piping or connection inside the wall.
Disconnect hoses before freezing temperatures arrive. If the faucet has an interior shutoff valve, close it and drain the line according to the system’s design.
Sprinkler and irrigation systems should also be winterized according to the manufacturer’s instructions or by a qualified irrigation professional.
9. Evaluate Trees Near the House
Look for dead, cracked, hanging or damaged branches that could fall on the house, garage, vehicles or utility lines during heavy snow or strong winds.
Tree work should be planned carefully. Avoid attempting to prune branches when they are covered with snow or ice, during severe cold or when the work requires climbing. Large branches and limbs near power lines should be handled by qualified professionals.
Learn more about when to trim tree branches before Minnesota winter weather.
10. Test Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms
Winter usually means closed windows, more time indoors and increased use of fuel-burning equipment.
Test every smoke and carbon monoxide alarm and replace batteries when needed. Check each alarm’s manufacture or replacement date because alarms do not last indefinitely.
Carbon monoxide alarms are especially important in homes with:
- Gas or oil heating equipment
- Fireplaces or wood-burning appliances
- Attached garages
- Gas water heaters
- Gas ranges or other fuel-burning appliances
Never operate a grill, vehicle, generator or other combustion equipment inside a home, garage or enclosed space.
11. Prepare for Winter Power Outages
Heavy snow, ice and wind can interrupt electrical service. Assemble basic supplies before a storm is forecast.
Consider keeping:
- Flashlights and extra batteries
- Portable phone chargers
- Drinking water
- Nonperishable food
- Necessary medications
- Blankets and warm clothing
- A battery-powered radio
- Pet supplies
- A properly rated fire extinguisher
- Contact information for your utility company
If you use a portable generator, operate it outdoors and well away from windows, doors and vents. Never run a generator inside a home, garage or enclosed area.
12. Prepare Snow and Ice-Removal Equipment
Check your snowblower before the first major snowfall. Make sure shovels, roof rakes and ice-control products are accessible rather than buried in the back of a garage.
Choose ice-melting products carefully, as some may damage concrete, landscaping or harm pets. Keep walkways, exterior stairs and emergency exits reasonably clear throughout the winter.
13. Use Your Thermostat and Ceiling Fans Wisely
A programmable or smart thermostat can help maintain comfortable temperatures while managing energy use. Avoid drastic temperature reductions during extreme cold, especially if plumbing runs through exterior walls or other vulnerable areas.
If you use ceiling fans during the winter, set them to a low speed in the direction that gently pulls cool air upward and redistributes warm air without creating an uncomfortable draft. On many—but not all—fans, this is the clockwise setting when viewed from below.
Minnesota Winter Home-Preparation Checklist
Before winter arrives, confirm that you have:
- Inspected the roof from a safe location
- Cleaned gutters and checked downspouts
- Examined the attic for moisture and insulation concerns
- Serviced the heating system
- Replaced or cleaned the furnace filter
- Evaluated the fireplace and chimney
- Checked windows and doors for drafts
- Protected vulnerable water pipes
- Disconnected garden hoses
- Winterized exterior faucets and irrigation systems
- Evaluated potentially hazardous tree branches
- Tested smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
- Prepared emergency and snow-removal supplies
- Located the main water shutoff valve
Prepare Now—Before Minnesota Winter Finds the Weak Spot
The best time to find a roof leak, plumbing vulnerability or heating concern is before snow and subzero temperatures arrive.
A home inspection is not a guarantee against future winter problems, but it can help identify visible conditions that deserve maintenance, monitoring or further evaluation. Inspecta-Homes has served Minnesota and Western Wisconsin homeowners since 1981.
Schedule your inspection with Inspecta-Homes and head into winter with better information about your home.
