Minnesota winters ask a lot of any home — and even more of a home with more systems, more square footage, and more to protect. A little preparation now saves a lot of stress (and expense) once the snow starts flying. Here’s what we recommend walking through before the temperatures drop.
Start With the Building Envelope
- Inspect the roof and gutters. Clear leaves and debris, check for loose or damaged shingles, and make sure downspouts direct water well away from the foundation. Ice dams are one of the most common (and preventable) sources of winter damage.
- Seal gaps and drafts. Check windows, doors, and any exterior penetrations (vents, pipes, cable lines) for gaps. Fresh caulking and weatherstripping pay for themselves quickly in comfort and heating costs.
- Check attic insulation and ventilation. Proper attic ventilation keeps roof temperatures even, which is one of the best defenses against ice dams.
Protect Your Mechanical Systems
- Service the furnace or boiler. A pre-season tune-up catches small issues before they become no-heat emergencies at the worst possible time.
- Drain and shut down exterior faucets and irrigation systems. Have them blown out and winterized to prevent freeze damage to lines.
- Insulate exposed pipes, especially in crawl spaces, garages, or along exterior walls.
- Test your generator, if you have one, and make sure fuel is fresh and fittings are in good shape.
Outdoor Living and Landscape
- Store or cover outdoor furniture, grills, and cushions.
- Winterize pools, spas, and fountains according to manufacturer guidance.
- Trim trees and limbs near the house or driveway — heavy snow and ice make weak branches a real hazard.
- Have driveways and walkways assessed for cracks before freeze-thaw cycles make them worse.
For Lake Homes: A Few Extra Steps
Lake properties carry some unique considerations beyond the standard winter checklist:
- Pull and store docks, lifts, and swim platforms before ice sets in — waiting too long can mean damage or a much harder removal.
- Winterize boats and watercraft, including engine flushing, fuel stabilization, and covered or indoor storage.
- Check seawalls, retaining walls, and shoreline structures for erosion or damage that ice movement could worsen over the season.
- Protect water-adjacent systems — pump houses, water intake lines, and any exterior plumbing tied to the lake need extra insulation or full shutdown, depending on your setup.
- Plan for snow load on boathouses and lakeside structures, which often see more accumulation than the main house due to wind patterns off the water.
- Secure a plan for driveway and dock-area snow removal — lake properties are often longer distances from town services, so having this arranged ahead of time matters.
A Few Habits Worth Keeping All Season
- Keep the thermostat at a consistent minimum temperature, even when the home is unoccupied.
- Know where your main water shutoff is, and make sure anyone checking on the house does too.
- Walk the exterior after any major storm to catch snow load or ice issues early.
Getting your home ready for winter doesn’t have to be a solo project. If any of this checklist turns up work you’d rather have handled by professionals — roof and gutter inspections, mechanical servicing, exterior repairs, dock removal, or anything in between — reach out to JN Built before winter sets in. We’re happy to walk your property with you and take care of what needs doing, so you can enjoy the season instead of worrying about it.