Where has this year gone? Hard to believe it's time, once again, to start planning for the winter ahead. Exterior home preparation is critical to helping your home weather the harsh winter elements and avoiding damage. Consider the following steps to get your home ready for winter.

Shut Off Hose Bibs: Hose bibs are the water faucets to which your gardening hoses attach. Every year basements flood because water is allowed to remain inside the pipes through the freezing winter months, which can cause pipes to burst. When spring rolls around, these broken pipes thaw and begin to leak. All hose bibs, including those that are "Frost Free," should be shut off and drained before the freezing weather. Also, don't forget to disconnect hoses so the faucets can fully drain.

Clean Gutters and Downspouts: Depending on the number of trees around the home, gutters should be cleaned before winter snows begin, and preferably several other times throughout the year. Remember to also test downspouts to ensure they are not blocked at or near the bottom. When gutters or downspouts are blocked, water backs up potentially causing water damage or gutters to pull away from the house. While you're at it, clear debris from valleys and low-pitched roofs.

Ensure Underground Drainage is Cleared: Many people have a drain at the bottom of an exterior stairwell and/or underground drains connected to downspouts that take water away from the house. Properly maintaining these drains is critical. If clogged with debris, heavy rains or snowfall can cause water to build up, potentially getting into the house or backing up into downspouts.

Inspect Exterior Grade: The grading around the exterior of the home plays a critical role in keeping water and excess moisture away from the structure. You should inspect the exterior of the home twice per year to ensure a sloped grade away from the house. Add dirt to settled areas and clean out excess mulch to allow an easy flow of water.

Inspect Snow Guards: Snow guards can help prevent snow from sliding off your roof, which can cause injuries or costly damage to your home. If you currently have snow guards, have them inspected to rule out damage from previous blizzards. At a minimum, perform your own visual inspection to make sure your snow guards and the surrounding roof materials are in good condition.

Have your Fireplace & Chimney Inspected: Whether you have a gas or wood-burning fireplace, a regular schedule of service and maintenance is highly recommended. Wood-burning fireplace flues should be cleaned at least once every two years – more depending on usage – to remove the buildup of creosote. With gas fireplaces, a technician should inspect the operation of the pilot flame or electronic igniter, the valve pressure, the heat-exchange area, the log positioning and the overall tightness of the electrical connections to ensure optimal performance and safety. Also, all fireplaces should have an annual chimney inspection and cracks and damage repaired. Lastly, cut overhanging branches back 10 feet from the chimney opening to prevent them from catching fire or obstructing smoke flow.

Replenish Winter Supplies: Now is the time to make sure you have the outdoor supplies you'll need, such as a good ergonomic shovel and something to treat icy patches. Sand and kitty litter (the old-fashioned, non-clumping kind) are greener options that won't harm your concrete, lawn or pets, but they do tend to be messier. If you opt to go the deicer route, BOWA's experts recommend either calcium chloride or magnesium chloride, which aren't as corrosive as sodium chloride (rock salt). Keep in mind, with new concrete you should avoid using all deicers the first year.

If you have questions on exterior home maintenance, remodeling or design, let me know. I'm always happy to help.