Climate zones 7 and 8
Home maintenance checklist for very cold climates (zones 7 and 8)
Zones 7 and 8 have short summers and winters that do real damage when something fails. Heating comes first, the fall list starts in September, and the summer list is the only window for exterior work.
Typical places: Northern Minnesota, northern Wisconsin, the Upper Peninsula, North Dakota, the Rockies at elevation and Alaska. Zones are drawn by county, so check the IECC map if you are near a boundary.
What shapes the schedule here
- Very long heating season
- Deep frost and frozen pipes
- Heavy snow load and ice dams
- A short window for exterior work
Spring (March to May)
Test the sump pump during the thaw
Snowmelt comes fast once it turns.
Summer (June to August)
Do exterior repairs in June and July
Caulk, paint and roof work need warm, dry days, and there are few of them.
Caulk joint guide
Fall (September to November)
Get the heat ready in September
The first cold night comes early. Test the furnace, the thermostat and the carbon monoxide alarms.
Winterize outdoor faucets and blow out sprinklers in October
Deep frost cracks anything holding water.
Sprinkler system sheetInsulate exposed pipes and check heat tape
A crawl space pipe can freeze in a single night at these temperatures.
Get ready for snow in November
Service the snow blower and the generator if you have one.
Snow load calculator
Winter (December to February)
Rake the roof edge after heavy snow
Snow load and ice dams are the main winter roof risks.
Snow load calculatorKnow where your main water shutoff is
A burst pipe in deep cold is a race against the clock.
Plumbing cheat sheet
These are the jobs that change with the climate. The full seasonal checklist has the ones every home needs, like smoke alarms and the dryer vent.