Winter in Montana is no joke. We're talking months of below-freezing temperatures, heavy snow, and wind that'll find every gap in your house. A little prep in the fall can save you thousands in emergency repairs when it's -20° outside.
Here are the five things every Montana homeowner should check before the first snow hits.
1. Check Your Roof and Gutters
Your roof takes a beating during winter. Snow accumulation, ice dams, and freeze-thaw cycles can expose weak spots fast.
What to Look For:
- Missing or damaged shingles: Replace them now before snow gets underneath
- Gutter debris: Clean them out completely - clogged gutters create ice dams
- Downspout flow: Make sure water drains away from your foundation
- Flashing around vents and chimneys: Look for gaps or rust
2. Seal Air Leaks
Those tiny gaps around windows and doors? They're costing you serious money on heating bills - and making parts of your house uncomfortably cold.
Where to Check:
- Window and door frames
- Electrical outlets on exterior walls
- Where pipes and wires enter the house
- Attic hatch
- Baseboards along exterior walls
Weatherstripping and caulk are cheap. A weekend project can cut your heating bill by 10-15%.
3. Service Your Heating System
Nothing worse than your furnace dying at 2 AM when it's below zero outside. And trust me - HVAC companies are slammed in winter. You'll be waiting days for service.
Basic Maintenance:
- Replace your furnace filter: Do this monthly during winter
- Get a professional inspection: Annual service catches problems early
- Test your thermostat: Make sure it's accurate and responding correctly
- Clear vents and registers: Remove furniture, rugs, and debris
4. Protect Your Pipes
Frozen pipes are one of the most expensive winter disasters. Burst pipes can cause thousands in water damage.
Prevention Checklist:
- Insulate exposed pipes: Especially in crawl spaces, attics, and garages
- Disconnect and drain outdoor hoses: Turn off exterior spigots from inside
- Keep cabinet doors open: Under sinks on exterior walls - let warm air circulate
- Know where your main shutoff is: If a pipe bursts, you need to act fast
5. Inspect Your Insulation
Good insulation is your first line of defense against Montana winter. If your attic is under-insulated, you're literally heating the neighborhood.
Quick Check:
- Attic insulation depth: Should be at least 10-14 inches in Montana
- Walls feel cold to touch: Sign of poor insulation
- Ice dams on your roof: Heat is escaping through your attic
- Uneven heating: Some rooms way colder than others
Adding insulation isn't glamorous, but it pays for itself in lower heating bills within a few years.
When to Call a Pro
Some of this you can handle yourself. But if you're dealing with roof damage, major air leaks, furnace problems, or serious insulation issues, get a contractor involved. Fall is the perfect time - we're not buried in snow emergency calls yet.
At KP General Contracting, we do pre-winter inspections all the time. We'll walk your property, identify problem areas, and give you a realistic priority list. Some stuff needs fixing now. Some can wait. We'll tell you the difference.
Questions about winter prep for your property? Give us a call. We're happy to talk through what makes sense for your situation.