Your Hampton Roads Winter Home Checklist: 10 Things to Do Before the Cold Sets In

If the last two winters taught us anything, it's that "mild" isn't a promise in Hampton Roads. We've had back-to-back snow days, an ice storm that brought down limbs and power lines, and multi-day deep freezes with wind chills near zero. A lot of our homes weren't built with that in mind. Pipes run through crawl spaces and exterior walls, heat pumps strain once temperatures drop into the teens, and one bad night can mean a burst pipe, a flooded crawl space, or no heat on the coldest morning of the year.

The good news: most of this is a weekend of work, and a lot of it costs nothing. Here's the list I'd walk through before December.

1. Get the heat pump serviced now, not in January

Most homes around here heat with a heat pump, and heat pumps work hardest when temperatures drop near freezing. A fall tune-up (coils cleaned, refrigerant checked, defrost cycle tested) is far cheaper than an emergency call when every HVAC company in the region has a waitlist. If you have backup electric heat strips, make sure they kick on. Change the filter while you're there, and set a reminder to do it again every one to three months.

2. Use the time change as your safety check

Daylight saving time ends Sunday, November 1. That's your annual cue to test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and swap batteries. If you have a gas furnace, gas fireplace, gas water heater, or an attached garage, a working CO detector on every sleeping level isn't optional.

3. Clean the gutters after the leaves actually fall

Between the oaks, maples, and pine straw, Hampton Roads gutters fill up fast in November. Clogged gutters overflow during winter storms and dump water right against your foundation, which is the last place you want it. Wait until most leaves are down, clear them, and make sure downspouts are carrying water several feet away from the house.

4. Look under the house

A lot of homes in our area sit on crawl spaces, and our humidity makes them worth a quick look every season. Check that vents are set the way your crawl space is designed to work (vented and encapsulated crawl spaces are handled differently), that the vapor barrier is intact, and that there's no standing water or musty smell. If pipes run through the crawl space, check that they're insulated.

5. Protect your pipes before the first hard freeze

After the last two winters, this one's a must, not a maybe. Before the first hard freeze:

• Disconnect garden hoses and drain them.
• Shut off and drain exterior spigots if they aren't frost-free.
• Insulate exposed pipes in crawl spaces, garages, and exterior walls.
• Know where your main water shutoff is, and make sure everyone in the house does too.

On a forecast night in the teens, open cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls and let a faucet drip.

6. Prep for nor'easter season

Hurricane season officially ends November 30, but winter nor'easters bring their own wind, tidal flooding, and power outages. Restock flashlights and batteries, trim dead limbs hanging over the roof or driveway, and secure anything in the yard that can turn into a projectile. If your neighborhood sees tidal flooding, know your route out and where your car can sit high and dry.

7. Check the roof and attic from the ground up

You don't need to climb anything. Walk the property with binoculars and look for missing or lifted shingles, damaged flashing around chimneys and vents, and sagging gutters. In the attic, look for daylight where it shouldn't be, water stains, and insulation that's been flattened or pulled back. Small fixes now beat a ceiling stain in February.

8. Seal the drafts you can feel

Run your hand around doors and windows on a windy day. If you feel air, new weatherstripping and a tube of caulk are some of the cheapest energy upgrades you'll ever make. Door sweeps on exterior doors help too, especially on older homes.

9. Clean the dryer vent and the chimney

Lint buildup in dryer vents is a real fire risk, and we run dryers more when it's cold and damp. Clean the lint trap every load and the full vent line at least once a year. If you burn wood, have the chimney inspected and swept before your first fire of the season.

10. Leaving town or PCSing this winter? Plan for an empty house

Military families know this one well. If you're deploying, traveling for the holidays, or moving before your home sells, an empty house needs a plan:

• Keep the heat on (most people set it in the mid-50s) so pipes stay protected.
• Shut off the main water if the house will sit empty for a stretch, and consider draining the lines.
• Ask a neighbor or property manager to check in, and make sure they know where the water shutoff is.
• Call your insurance company. Some policies have rules about vacant homes, and you want to know them before you leave, not after a claim.

A little prep now protects your biggest asset

None of this is glamorous, but a well-maintained home holds its value, inspects cleaner when it's time to sell, and saves you from the 2 a.m. surprises nobody budgets for. If you're thinking about selling in the spring, winter is also the perfect time to tackle the small repairs buyers and inspectors notice first.

Want a second set of eyes on what's worth fixing before you list, or just have a question about your home's value heading into 2027? Grab a time on my calendar.