Fall is quickly approaching here in Utah. That means a few things - cooler weather, beautiful fall scenes, and of course...winter is on its way again. I know that is not welcome news to some, but the fact is now is the time to start preparing for the upcoming winter months.

Here are 3 tips to help you make sure your home is ready for the upcoming winter season:

Tip 1 - Winterize the exterior of your home

Experts are predicting that the 2020 winter in Utah could be extremely cold and snowy. Now, we're not weather experts, we're roofing experts. However, it would be very important to prepare for a winter with a lot of snow rather than be caught unprepared.

I would consider doing the following to prepare for the snow:

• Inspect the caulking around windows and doors and repair or replace any cracked caulking.
• Inspect rain gutters and make sure there aren't any leaks or holes. Repair those as needed.
• Schedule a roof inspection by a roofing expert to evaluate the integrity of your roof.
• Disconnect all hoses from the exterior of your home beginning in October to ensure that exterior faucets do not freeze.

By checking and repairing these simple items now, it will give you enough time to complete them before the snow flies.

Tip 2 - Install heat tape on your roof

Heat tape is a great investment to protect your home, especially if you have a North facing house. A roof that slopes towards the north is considered high risk for ice dams. Ice can build up along the edge of the roof, lifting the shingles and causing water damage inside of your home. Heat tape will help prevent the build-up of ice dams saving thousands of dollars in damages to your home. 

At American Prestige Roofing, we can help you get your heat tape installed to protect your roof, your home, and your family this winter.

Tip 3 - Finish any outdoor projects

Starting outdoor projects late in the fall can be difficult because we never know when we will experience the first snow fall. Typically in Utah, we can expect to see snow on the mountains before the end of September with snow in the valleys a few weeks later. It is probably best to not start a new outdoor project after October 1st.

Conclusion

As we enter this beautiful season we call fall, remember that winter is right around the corner. If you do a little bit of winter preparation each weekend, you will save yourself a lot of panic and potential problems as we head into the winter months. If you have any questions or would like to talk with a roofing expert about preparing your roof and gutters for winter, call the roofing professionals at American Prestige Roofing.