With cold weather already here and more on the way, you can still help protect your home from the damaging effects of winter weather. Here are three simple, inexpensive tips you can use to give your home an advantage when it goes head-to-head with Old Man Winter.

Tip 1 – Gutter socks

I know, these sound weird. Let me explain. To protect your gutters from the snow and ice that can pack—and crack—the gutters, take a long tube sock. Fill it with ice melt (not just salt!). Tie the end. Attach the sock to a bracket at the higher end of the gutter.

To attach it, you can poke a hole in the sock, put a carabiner through, and easily clip the carabiner onto the bracket. This will prevent the sock from sliding down the drain and clogging the gutter.

Lay the sock flat into the gutter, and presto! A gutter sock! Create and install several, according to how many gutters you have, so that the ice and snow don’t cause them to crack, leak, and detach.

Tip 2 – Stock up on ice melt

Speaking of ice melt, it’s a good idea to buy it before you’ll need it. You’ll be prepared and probably save money, too. Ice melt never goes bad, so you can find a spot for it in your garage, cellar, or storage and forget about it until you need it. It’s great for gutter socks, but it’s also pretty handy for your driveways, walkways, porches, and outside steps.

If you have to buy it when a storm is coming or is already here, you’ll typically pay higher prices. It’s just supply and demand. But you can be ready ahead of time.

Tip 3 – Beware of turbine covers

Here’s the main thing to remember about turbine covers: don’t use them! They’re sold at home improvement stores right next to the turbines, but you don’t need them, and they might create unhealthy conditions in your home.

It may be tempting to cover the turbines on your roof in the winter. At first glance, it seems logical, right? It’s like an umbrella for the turbines, to keep snow and sleet from accumulating and seeping into the roof. But don’t do it.

Turbine covers can cut off air flow while trapping heat and moisture. That creates the ideal conditions for mold to breed and spread.

Why they sell these covers, I don’t know. If you read the manufacturer’s instructions for the actual turbines, they clearly warn not to cover them. Keep your turbines open and unobstructed so that your roof remains well-ventilated all winter long.

As always, if you’d like to have a professional come check things out on your roof before winter digs any deeper, call us at 405-359-3951. Let’s keep your roof in optimal condition, so it can protect your house, your belongings, and your loved ones.