The average homeowner’s insurance claim for the 2006 winter season was $5,743.  Don't be one of those statistics! One easy way to prep for winter and protect your home from winter freeze is to drain outdoor faucets, pool equipment, and sprinkler systems.

Here are some other timely tips to check off your list this month:

General

• Be virtuous and clean, clean, clean.  Clear your drainage pipes or have a system installed to deflect debris from your gutters.  Clear debris that collects around the base of your home.  A heap of dead leaves will only trap moisture causing damage to the foundation of your home. 

• Use a match or lighter to give your windows the flicker test.  Cracks and loose/missing glass should be fixed or replaced.  Foggy double paned units will need to re-sealing.

• Take care of fire hazards. As birds begin to migrate for the winter, now's the time to rid empty nests left in your dryer vents.
• Call on an inspector to properly switch from cooling to heating modes and inspect furnaces and refrigerant lines.
  

Plumbing

• Check the insulation around indoor, attic, crawlspace and exposed pipes.  Ideally your attic should be 5-10 degrees warmer than outside temperatures.  Adding insulation will keep warm air from leaking out to your roof and causing damage by melting and re-freezing ice and snow. 

• Wrap exposed pipes with foam insulation or heat trace tape as needed.

• Drain underground sprinkler systems—blow out any water left in the lines.

• Cover exposed spigots with a Styrofoam cover or with newspaper, a plastic bag and duct tape.

• Shut off outdoor faucets and drains.

Wood Floors

Without proper care, winter's harsh elements—slush, snow and salt—can dull the varnish of hardwood floors and even cause warping and gaps.  Rather than missing out on winter fun, here are a couple of simple steps you can take to protect your floors this winter.

• Install Floor Mats. Catching slush and snow at the door is the best way to avoid damage. It's important to keep these mats as clean and dry as possible. Consider investing in an additional mat you can use while drying the other. If your kids enjoy playing outside, have them remove their wet clothes as soon as they come in to avoid trekking snow through the house.
• Get Creative with Household Materials. A dish-drainer tray mat by the door with a towel underneath can be a nice place for shoes and boots to dry. Kindly ask guests to remove their shoes as they enter. Buy inexpensive or disposable slippers to make guests feel more comfortable.
• Train Your Pet. Pets are the number one offenders of tracking snow and slush into the house. Train your pets to patiently wait by the door while you dry their paws with a towel, and then reward them with a treat. Consider placing a bowl of treats by the door as a reminder.
• Be Prepared. Always keep soft towels or a wet/dry vacuum on hand in case you need to get rid of water right away. While towels can clean up most of the mess, it's best to invest in a quality floor care kit.
• Check the Warranty. Some companies offer warranties, should snow or other harmful elements damage your floors. Before purchasing your hardwood floors, learn which product warranties the company offers.
  

While winter can be a difficult time for hardwood floors, there is one benefit to this season: It's one of the best times to install hardwood flooring. Indoor moisture levels are at their lowest, which helps to prevent gapping.

Flower and Vegetable Gardens

Prepare your perennials and garden beds to be their best next spring by taking action before the soil freezes.

• Divide and replant perennials that aren't in bloom.

• Remove dead growth and blossoms to avoid insect infestation.

• Remove—and do not compost—any diseased growth from flowers and vegetables.

• Bury remaining vegetable growth in the soil.

• Till the soil, adding lime if necessary.

• Layer 1 to 2 inches of compost or mulch over the entire garden bed.

Bushes, Trees and Shrubs

Different bushes, trees and shrubs require different levels of pre-winter maintenance, while some require none at all.

• Shield new plant grafts with mounds of compost, or wrap them in leaf-filled burlap.

• Wrap rose bushes securely with burlap and fill with straw.

• Prune trees.

• Create simple pole and burlap shelters for delicate shrubbery.

• Spread a 2- or 3-inch layer of mulch around tree bases, not touching the trunk.

• Consider spraying plants that are sensitive to water damage with a desiccant.

• Leave evergreen shrubs and trees just as they are.

[main image: Hemera | Thinkstock]