# 7 Saturday Chores to Winterize Your Home By Michael D'Angelo (@michaeldangelo) · Published 2026-10-17 Canonical: https://voce.com/@michaeldangelo/fall-home-maintenance-tips-deerfield-il-hp0olo --- The most expensive home insurance claims in Illinois aren't dramatic — they're frozen pipes, ice dams, and a furnace that dies on the coldest night of the year. As an insurance agent in Deerfield, I've watched homeowners file claims for water damage that a few Saturday chores could have prevented. From 2024 through June 2025, frozen-pipe and winter water damage claims across the country totaled over **$628 million** in paid losses, with Illinois among the five states with the highest claim costs ([State Farm](https://newsroom.statefarm.com/frozen-pipes-not-so-nice-beat-winter-water-woes-before-they-strike)). These seven chores are the ones that matter most for protecting your property — and your premium — before the freeze hits. Each one targets a specific winter risk that drives claims, so you're doing maintenance and loss prevention at the same time. 1. Clean Your Gutters and Downspouts 2. Service Your Furnace and HVAC 3. Inspect Your Roof 4. Seal Windows and Doors 5. Drain and Shut Off Exterior Faucets 6. Test Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors 7. Trim Trees Away From Your Roof I picked these seven because they line up with the most common cold-weather claims: **burst pipes, ice dams, and furnace failures**. If a task doesn't prevent one of those risks or a slip-and-fall exposure, it didn't make the list. The goal is protecting the biggest systems in your home — plumbing, heating, and roof — with work you can finish in a weekend. #### Key Takeaways - Winter water damage claims exceeded $628 million across the country in a recent period, and Illinois was among the hardest-hit states - Clogged gutters and frozen pipes cause the two most expensive winter claims — both are preventable with fall chores - A furnace tune-up catches failures before the first freeze, when heating service calls spike - These seven chores prevent the claims, not just the damage ## 1\. Clean Your Gutters and Downspouts Clogged gutters are the most direct route to an ice dam — a ridge of ice that forms at the roof edge when melting snow refreezes, forcing water back under the shingles and into your walls, ceilings, and insulation. **Best for: any home with trees nearby or an older roof**, where leaves and debris are most likely to pile up and trap water. **Ice dams are a top winter insurance claim**, and the damage can include mold once moisture gets trapped in the attic ([State Farm](https://newsroom.statefarm.com/frozen-pipes-not-so-nice-beat-winter-water-woes-before-they-strike)). Clean out leaves, twigs, and debris from the gutters and downspouts in late fall, before the first heavy snow. Check that downspouts drain several feet away from your foundation, not right next to it. While you're up there, confirm the gutters are pitched so water actually flows toward the downspouts instead of pooling. Keeping gutters clear does double duty: it stops ice dams from forming on the roof and it keeps meltwater from backing up against your foundation, where it can seep into a basement and turn into a water damage claim. ## 2\. Service Your Furnace and HVAC A furnace failure in January isn't just uncomfortable — it's one of the **top winter insurance claims**, because a dead heating system can leave pipes to freeze and cause secondary damage that's far more expensive than the repair ([The Zebra](https://www.thezebra.com/resources/home/top-winter-home-insurance-claims)). In northern Illinois, homes rely on their heating for five to six months straight, so a breakdown mid-winter means an emergency service call at the worst possible time. Schedule a professional tune-up in the fall. A technician will inspect the thermostat, electrical connections, and blower, and for gas systems check the burners, heat exchanger, and venting — the fire- and carbon-monoxide-related parts that are unsafe for you to handle yourself ([Ardmore Fresh Air](https://ardmorefreshair.com/a-guide-to-furnace-maintenance-and-preparing-your-heating-system-for-winter)). **Replace or clean the furnace filter every 1 to 3 months**, more often if you have pets, since a dirty filter restricts airflow and forces the system to work harder ([Discount Heating](https://www.discountheating.net/preparing-your-furnace-for-fall-in-buffalo-grove-il-a-step-by-step-maintenance-checklist)). Keep the filter change on your calendar as a chore — it's the cheapest maintenance you can do, and it keeps the furnace efficient all winter. ## 3\. Inspect Your Roof Roof failures drive a large share of cold-weather home insurance claims, and the risk peaks in winter when snow and ice load the structure. **Best for: homes over 15 years old or with mature trees overhead**, where shingles are most worn and the roof is exposed to more debris. **Frozen-pipe and roof-leak damage are among the most common winter claims**, and a leak you miss in fall turns into a far bigger repair by spring ([The Zebra](https://www.thezebra.com/resources/home/top-winter-home-insurance-claims)). Walk your property in the fall and look for missing, cracked, or curling shingles, plus any areas where flashing around chimneys or vents has pulled loose. Check the attic for water stains, daylight showing through the roof deck, or damp insulation — all signs that water is already getting in. If you can't get up safely, hire a roofer for a fall inspection; the cost is a fraction of a roof replacement. The point of the inspection is catching small problems while they're cheap to fix. Once snow sits on the roof for months, you can't inspect it, and a small leak has all winter to turn into mold and structural rot that makes a much bigger claim. ## 4\. Seal Windows and Doors Drafty windows and doors don't just make your home colder — they force your furnace to run longer and harder all season, which raises your energy bills and puts extra strain on the heating system. **Best for: older homes and anyone with high winter heating bills**, since air leaks are the biggest efficiency loss in an older envelope. **Sealing gaps also protects plumbing**, because an unsealed crack lets cold air reach the pipes inside exterior walls, raising the risk of a freeze ([State Farm](https://newsroom.statefarm.com/frozen-pipes-not-so-nice-beat-winter-water-woes-before-they-strike)). Caulk around exterior faucets, vents, and anywhere a pipe, cable, or wire enters your wall, and check weatherstripping on doors for gaps or daylight underneath. In Illinois, this matters more than most places: an unsealed gap lets cold air hit plumbing inside exterior walls, which raises the risk of a frozen pipe. Sealing also protects against carbon monoxide. Blocked or damaged vents near sealed windows can trap combustion gases, which is one reason you test your detectors at the same time — see chore six. ## 5\. Drain and Shut Off Exterior Faucets An outdoor faucet left connected to a garden hose is a **frozen-pipe claim waiting to happen**. When temperatures drop below 20°F, water in uninsulated exterior plumbing can freeze and expand, and a small crack in a pipe can release over 250 gallons of water a day into your walls and floors ([State Farm](https://newsroom.statefarm.com/frozen-pipes-not-so-nice-beat-winter-water-woes-before-they-strike)). In the fall, disconnect and drain all garden hoses, then shut off the outdoor water supply and open the faucet so the line drains completely. Many Illinois homes have a shutoff valve inside near the spigot — find yours now, not during a freeze. If you have a shutoff, close it and leave the outside faucet open through winter so no water sits in the exposed pipe. This is one of the cheapest, fastest chores on the list, and it protects against one of the most expensive claims. In a recent period, **the average frozen-pipe claim payment exceeded $30,000** — well worth the ten minutes it takes to drain a spigot ([State Farm](https://newsroom.statefarm.com/frozen-pipes-not-so-nice-beat-winter-water-woes-before-they-strike)). ## 6\. Test Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors Fall is the right moment to test detectors because it's when homes close up for winter — windows shut, furnaces switch on, and a **carbon monoxide problem becomes far more likely**. Gas furnaces produce carbon monoxide during operation, and a cracked heat exchanger or blocked vent can push it into your living space ([Discount Heating](https://www.discountheating.net/preparing-your-furnace-for-fall-in-buffalo-grove-il-a-step-by-step-maintenance-checklist)). Replace the batteries and test each smoke and CO detector, and make sure you have a working carbon monoxide detector on every floor. Blocked exhaust vents outside the home are a real hazard too — check that snow, ice, and debris never cover them, since a blocked vent can let carbon monoxide build up inside (AvantStay). This chore won't stop a claim the way draining a pipe will, but it's the one that protects people rather than property. A working detector gives you the early warning you need if the furnace ever malfunctions at 2 a.m. on a freezing night. ## 7\. Trim Trees Away From Your Roof A heavy branch loaded with ice or snow is a **classic winter liability**. When a limb snaps onto your roof, it can punch through shingles, damage gutters, and open your home to water before you even know the roof is compromised. **Best for: homes with large trees within striking distance of the roofline** and any property where limbs already overhang the siding. Trim back any branches that overhang the roof or touch the siding before the first storm. It's easier and safer to do this in the fall, when you're not working in snow and ice. If a limb hangs over your roofline from a neighbor's tree, talk to them now — resolving it in October is far simpler than sorting out a damaged roof in January. Tree damage is one of those claims that's covered, but it still raises your premium and eats your deductible. Trimming is a weekend chore that removes the risk at the source instead of relying on insurance to pay for the aftermath. ## How to Prioritize Your Winter Prep If you only have one Saturday, start with the chores that prevent the most expensive claims. **Drain your exterior faucets** (chore five) and **clean your gutters** (chore one) first — together they stop the two biggest water-damage sources, frozen pipes and ice dams, which are exactly the claims that drive losses. In a recent period the **average frozen-pipe claim payment exceeded $30,000**, and Illinois ranked among the five states with the highest total claim costs paid ([State Farm](https://newsroom.statefarm.com/frozen-pipes-not-so-nice-beat-winter-water-woes-before-they-strike)). If your furnace is more than a few years old or you can't remember its last tune-up, move service (chore two) to the top of your list. A furnace failure isn't just a repair — in the worst case it leaves your home unheated long enough for pipes to freeze, turning a single problem into two claims. An older home with drafty windows should also bump sealing (chore four) up, since it protects both your heating bill and the plumbing inside exterior walls. Newer construction with foam insulation and a recent furnace can let you focus on the roof, detectors, and tree trimming. The common thread is the same: **these seven chores prevent the claims, not just the damage**. A claim you avoid never touches your premium, your deductible, or your claim history. Do the work now, and your January self — and your future insurance rate — will thank you.