WINTER HOME MAINTENANCE PLAN - 2 tasks per month

1. Protect your pipes.
Why? A burst pipe is one of the costliest winter repairs.

DIY Steps (see DIY videos below): Keep the heat at 55°F or higher even when you're away, open cabinet doors under sinks on outside walls during cold snaps, and know where your main water shutoff is.

Professional Help: A plumber to insulate pipes in cold spots.

2. Test smoke and CO detectors.
Why? Furnaces, fireplaces and water heaters are running their hardest.

DIY Steps (see DIY videos below): Press test on each one, replace the batteries, and replace any unit more than 10 years old.

Professional Help: An electrician for hardwired systems.

1. Replace furnace filters.
Why? Filters clog fast in heating season, and a clean one helps on inversion days.

DIY Steps (see DIY videos below): Check it monthly and replace it when it's dirty.

Professional Help: An HVAC tech if airflow seems weak.

2. Test for radon.
Why? Radon is an odorless radioactive gas found in many Utah homes, and January is National Radon Action Month.

DIY Steps (see DIY videos below): Use a short-term test kit on the lowest lived-in floor.

Professional Help: A certified radon mitigation company if your levels come back high.

1. Watch for ice dams.
Why? Ice at the roof edge pushes meltwater under the shingles.

DIY Steps (see DIY videos below): Pull snow off the lower edge of the roof with a roof rake from the ground, and never chip at the ice.

Professional Help: A roofer or insulation contractor, since ice dams usually mean heat is escaping through the attic.

2. Check the caulking around windows and doors.
Why? Gaps let in cold air and moisture.

DIY Steps (see DIY videos below): Re-caulk cracked spots indoors now and outdoors once it warms up.

Professional Help: A handyman.