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Winter ChecklistWinter Home Maintenance Checklist for Central Indiana, December to February
Fall is for prevention. Winter is for watching: the coldest weeks find the weak spigot, the tired water heater and the garage door spring that was already near the end. Here is what to check, month by month, and what is worth a call.
Short answer: in December, finish anything left from fall (hoses off, drafts sealed, alarms tested). In January, the coldest month, protect pipes during cold snaps and watch the water heater and garage door. In February, check ceilings and drywall after the thaw and book spring exterior work early. Indianapolis averages a January high of 36°F and a low of 21°F, per the National Weather Service's local climate normals.
December: Finish Fall Prep, Then Get Ready for Guests
- Hoses off, spigots drained. If a hose is still connected, a frost-free spigot cannot drain and can split inside the wall. A spigot that already drips or will not shut off is worth replacing before January; see outdoor faucet replacement.
- Find the drafts. On a windy day, feel along the bottom of exterior doors and the garage entry door. Worn sweeps and flattened weatherstripping are the usual cause; see drafty door repair.
- Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Replace batteries, and replace any alarm past the date printed on its back.
- Reverse the ceiling fans. The U.S. Department of Energy recommends running ceiling fans clockwise at low speed in winter, which pushes warm ceiling air back down the walls.
- Guest-ready fixes. Running toilets, a sticking front door, loose railings and the TV that is still in the box; see holiday prep.
January: Cold Snaps, Hot Water and the Garage Door
- Cold-snap routine for pipes. Citizens Energy Group advises trickling faucets below freezing, opening sink cabinets on outside walls and keeping the garage door closed where water lines run through it. The Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor adds: keep the thermostat at 55°F or higher when you are away, and run a pencil-size stream on an exterior-wall faucet at 0°F or colder.
- Know your main shutoff. Tag it so anyone in the house can close it fast.
- Watch the water heater. Searches for "no hot water" peak in Indiana in January, when the incoming water is coldest and an aging tank works hardest. Rusty water, rumbling, or water at the base are signs it is near the end. A like-for-like 40-gallon tank swap totals $1,450 to $2,495 installed, heater included; see water heater replacement and what to check when the hot water stops.
- Listen to the garage door. Jerky travel, a loud bang, or a door that will not stay up usually means a spring or cable. Do not try to adjust a torsion spring yourself; see garage door repair and cold-weather garage door problems.
February: Thaw Checks and Spring Booking
- Look up. After snow melts, check ceilings near exterior walls and under the roof valleys for new stains. Fix the source first, then the drywall; see ceiling repair after a leak.
- Nail pops and corner cracks. Ceilings that pull away from interior walls every winter and close up in summer are usually truss uplift, not failed drywall. The fix is trim, not more mud; see drywall repair.
- Book spring exterior work now. Deck staining, exterior paint and soft washing all need warm, dry days. Getting on the spring list in February is easier than in May; see deck repair and staining.
- Use the slow season inside. Painting, drywall, tile and bath refreshes; see winter indoor projects, winter bathroom remodels and winter window replacement.
What to Handle Yourself and What Is Worth a Call
| Task | DIY | Worth a call |
|---|---|---|
| Hoses, faucet covers, trickling faucets | Yes | When a spigot drips, leaks inside, or will not shut off |
| Door sweeps and weatherstripping | Simple stick-on strips | When the door is out of square or the threshold is worn |
| Smoke and CO alarm batteries | Yes | Hardwired alarm replacement on existing wiring |
| Water heater | Watch for leaks and rust | Replacement on existing lines |
| Garage door springs and cables | No: stored spring tension is dangerous | Always |
| Ceiling stain after a thaw | Find and stop the source | Cut-out, patch, texture and paint once dry |
What We Do Not Do
Snow removal, furnace and HVAC service, getting on snowy or icy roofs, ice dam removal, gutter replacement, gas lines, new electrical circuits, and burst-pipe emergency response, water extraction and drying are outside our scope. Nick's Handyman Service, LLC is a licensed general contractor, not a licensed plumbing or electrical contractor. Our plumbing and electrical work is repair and replacement on existing lines and circuits. We book Monday through Friday, 8 to 6, and Saturday, 9 to 2. Evenings, Sundays and other after-hours visits can be arranged ahead of time at a $225 minimum. We are not an unscheduled emergency service.
Common Questions
How do I prepare my house for winter in Indiana?
Disconnect hoses and drain outdoor faucets, seal drafty doors and windows, test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, clean the gutters after the leaves are down, and know where your main water shutoff is. The fall checklist covers the October work; this page covers what to watch once the cold arrives.
When should I drip my faucets to keep pipes from freezing?
Citizens Energy Group advises trickling faucets when temperatures drop below freezing, and opening sink cabinets on outside walls. The Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor says to run a pencil-size stream from a faucet on an exterior wall when it is 0°F or colder. The pipes most at risk run through exterior walls, crawl spaces and garages.
What temperature should I keep my house at when I am away in winter?
The Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor recommends keeping the thermostat at 55°F or higher while you are away.
Who do I call if a pipe bursts?
Shut off the main water valve first. Pipe repair under pressure, water extraction and drying are outside our scope. Once the pipe is fixed and the area is dry, we cut out and replace the damaged drywall or ceiling, match the texture and repaint; see drywall and ceiling repair after a leak.
Do garage door springs break more in cold weather?
Cold does not break a healthy spring, but a spring near the end of its life has less margin, which is why garage door repair searches in Indiana peak in January. Spring replacement on a single-bay door runs $185 to $460; see garage door repair.
Can you do indoor painting and drywall in the winter?
Yes. Interior painting, drywall, trim, tile and flooring all work in a heated house. See winter indoor projects.
Do you do snow removal, furnace service or ice dam removal?
No. Snow removal, furnace and HVAC work, and getting on a snowy or icy roof are outside our scope. If an ice dam leaks into a ceiling, we repair the drywall and paint after the leak is stopped.
More Winter Work
Where We Do This Work
Winter visits run from our Greenwood shop to all 19 cities we serve.
Nick's Handyman Service, LLC · 1230 Dusty Trail, Greenwood, IN 46142 · (317) 893-3717 · nicholas@nhsindy.com
Last reviewed November 2026.
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