Winterize the House: What You Need to Bear in Mind When It's Cold, Wet and Snowy!

November 3, 2022
  1. Step 1: Check façade
  2. Step 2: Check roof
  3. Step 3: Clean rain gutter
  4. Step 4: Check windows and doors
  5. Step 5: Turn off water and drain pipes
  6. Step 6: Clean floor drains
  7. Step 7: Clean sidewalks and check lamps
  8. Step 8: Have heating system checked
  9. Step 9: Set temperature correctly
  10. Bonus: Seven heating-saving tips for next winter

Early November is the time to prepare your house or apartment for winter. Sub-zero temperatures, wetness and snow can attack the building fabric and cause costly damage. The house façade and roof are particularly at risk, but so are other elements such as windows, doors or water pipes. With our 9-step program, you can make your house fit for the winter.

Houzy Hint

Tip

How to winterize your garden and plants, you can read in our article «Garden Calendar November for Balcony, Garden and Terrace: Things To Do».

Check façade

When water freezes, it expands. That's why you should check the house façade for cracks or other damage before the onset of each winter. Otherwise, moisture will freeze in the façade and enlarge the cracks until the plaster crumbles over a large area and has to be replaced. You can temporarily seal minor damage with exterior putty. But in the spring you should hire a plasterer or painter who will professionally seal and plaster the cracks or damage.

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Check roof

Check the roof for loose tiles and leaks. The biggest weak point is the chimney, especially the transition to the roof. Set up a well-secured ladder and thoroughly inspect the entire roof. Alternatively, you can look out the skylights and look for leaks. If the attic is not developed, the easiest way to check the roof is from below. If you find any leaks and water is seeping in, call a roofer immediately. During the inspection, also make sure that antennas, solar panels and snow guards are securely mounted.

Houzy Hint

Tip

A roof renovation costs some 10,000 francs. You can get part of this back as a subsidy if you renovate the roof to make it more energy-efficient. You can find out more in «How Much Does a Roof Renovation Cost?».

Clean rain gutter

If you are already on the ladder, you should check whether the gutters and downspouts are securely hung. If not, they could break off and hurt the roof connection. At the same time, clean all the gutters and downspouts and free them from autumn leaves. For example, use an old dish brush or a hand brush. Leaves can clog gutters or pipes and lead to water damage and, sooner or later, mold on the facade or insulation. If you discover a hole in a gutter or water damage, you should contact a roofer immediately.

Houzy Advice

Good to know

If your house has a flat roof, you should check the flow at all drains.

Houzy Hint

Tip

Use a garden hose to check that the gutters and pipes are clear. If the water you spray into the gutter immediately drains into the sewer system via downspout, everything is fine.

Clean gutters and winterize roof
Clogged gutters and downspouts can cause moisture and water damage.

Check windows and doors

Rubber seals and silicone gaskets are susceptible to wear. Therefore, you should maintain them with a care product for rubber seals and replace them before the material crumbles - otherwise moisture will penetrate. Windows and doors must close properly to prevent heat from escaping. Check that all doors and windows open and close easily and without force. If not, you should oil the fittings and hinges and adjust them properly if necessary. Leaky windows should be sealed temporarily and you should think about window renovation.

Houzy Advice

Good to know

If you are unsure whether a door or window seal is leaking, hold a lit candle or bird feather close to the seal. This way you will immediately see if it is tight or not.

Houzy Hint

Tip

A window renovation has a potential energy savings of 5 to 10 percent. In the article «Replace Windows: Energy Efficiency, Costs and Subsidies» read why window renovation is worthwhile.

Seal windows and doors
Condensation on the window is a warning sign: either the house is poorly insulated or you are heating and ventilating incorrectly.

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Turn off water and drain pipes

Once temperatures are around freezing, water pipes can freeze and burst because frozen water expands. That's why you should be sure to completely drain all outdoor pipes that could freeze before the first frost and shut off the water supply with the shutoff valve. If a water line still freezes, call a plumbing contractor immediately. Also remember to drain garden pumps, rain barrels or water hoses.


Winterize house and drain pipes
Water in pipes expands when it freezes, which is why the pipes can burst at sub-zero temperatures.

Clean floor drains

Clean all outdoor floor drains like rain gutters with a hand brush or old dish brush and remove leaves. Otherwise, they will overflow when it rains and rainwater will freeze in sub-zero temperatures. As a landowner, you are liable for damage caused by poor maintenance of the building or driveway. For example, if the mailman slips on ice caused by rainwater overflowing from a floor drain.

Clean sidewalks and check lamps

Because of liability - and for your own safety - you should winterize all walkways. Uneven or mossy paths are even more dangerous in winter, when it's usually dark and damp, than in summer. Remove all moss, level out uneven surfaces and tighten loose stones. Also, check that outdoor stairs and walkways are sufficiently lit and that all motion detectors, dimmer switches, lamps and light switches are working properly.

Houzy Hint

Tip

Prepare for the first snow or ice by getting snow shovels, granules, gravel, sand or grit ready early. Do not use salt, which can harm your plants.

Have heating system checked

Before the heating season starts, you should have your heating system checked and serviced and, if you still heat with heating oil, fill up your oil tank. You should also bleed all radiators. The more air there is in the radiator, the more energy it needs to reach the target temperature. If you regularly bleed your radiators, you will save energy and money.

Houzy Hint

Tip

In our article «Energy Prices: Can You Still Afford Your Gas or Oil Heating?» learn what you can do to reduce your heating costs even more next winter.

Set temperature correctly

Adjust the temperature if your radiators or floor heating are controlled by traditional thermostats. Level 3 corresponds to 20 degrees, which is just right for living rooms. One level up increases the temperature by four degrees (level 4 = 24 degrees), one level down decreases the temperature by four degrees (level 2 = 16 degrees). Wait a few hours for the room temperature to settle, and adjust until you feel comfortable. But don't heat too much: heating one degree less saves plus/minus seven percent of the total heating consumption.

Houzy Advice

Good to know

The heater will not heat faster if you turn the thermostat all the way up. You only overheat the room and waste valuable energy.

Houzy Hint

Tip

If your cold cellar is damp, you should ventilate it for a long time in winter. The dry outside air removes a lot of moisture from the masonry at temperatures below zero degrees and the cellar slowly dries out.

Properly regulate temperature in winter
Set the heating correctly: heating one percent less saves up to seven percent of your energy consumption.

Bonus: Seven heating-saving tips for next winter

  1. Don't heat too much: heating one degree less saves seven percent of total heating consumption. Lower the room temperature in frequently used rooms to 20 or 21 degrees and in the bedroom to 18 degrees. For older people, the Federal Office of Public Health recommends 1 degree more.
  2. Don't underheat: If the room temperature drops below 18 degrees, the air can condense on cooler exterior walls or window frames and form moisture there, which can lead to mold. This is bad for the building fabric and for your health.
  3. Ventilate properly: Dry air dries out the skin and mucous membranes, which promotes allergies, respiratory infections and skin rashes. In addition, many sleep poorly when the air is too dry. That's why it's important to ventilate briefly three times a day.
  4. Heat smart: Install smart thermostats that only heat when necessary. Properly intelligent devices automatically lower the room temperature as soon as you open the windows or leave your house or apartment.
  5. Protect room heat: Close all windows and shutters when it's cold outside, especially at night. And draw the curtains.
  6. Use solar heat: Open all shutters and blinds as soon as the sun shines. Even in little-used or unused rooms.
  7. Keep radiators clear: Do not cover radiators or heaters with thick night curtains or furniture. The heat should be able to circulate freely in the room.

With Houzy energy calculator, you can check the current energy efficiency class of your house or apartment and simulate the impact of energy renovation measures. The energy calculator analyzes the savings potential, calculates the investment costs and takes subsidies into account.

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