Fall Roof Maintenance & Pre-Winter Water Damage Prevention
Fall is the cheapest time to prevent winter damage. An hour of maintenance in October beats a $15,000 insurance claim in January. Here's the Central Texas homeowner's pre-winter checklist Moisture Pro recommends.
Roof inspection
Walk your property (or have a roofer walk it). Look for missing shingles, damaged flashing around chimneys and vents, cracked caulking. Clear leaves and debris from the roof and gutters.
Gutter and downspout cleaning
Clogged gutters back water up under shingles. All debris from fall trees needs to be out before the first hard freeze. Extend downspouts away from the foundation to prevent soil saturation.
Pipe insulation and winter prep
Insulate exposed pipes in attics, crawl spaces, and garages. Disconnect outdoor hoses and cover spigots. Test your main water shutoff valve so you're not fumbling in a crisis. Know where your electrical panel is and which breakers serve which rooms.
HVAC service
Schedule fall HVAC service. Replace the furnace filter. Have the condensate drain flushed. Verify safety float switches are working.