5 ways to prep your home for a Wasatch Front winter
October 14, 2025 · by Jasmine Millard
Most water damage we repair in March was set in motion in October. The temperature drop, the first wet snow, and a couple of clogged drains are all it takes to turn an annoying leak into a $12,000 ceiling repair.
1. Walk your roof drains, not just your gutters
On flat and low-slope roofs, the scupper or interior drain matters more than the perimeter gutter. A handful of cottonwood leaves at the drain neck can pond a roof six inches deep in one storm.
2. Seal cracks before they freeze
Even hairline cracks in concrete or stucco fill with water, freeze, and double in width. A $14 tube of polyurethane sealant in October saves a $1,400 repair in April.
3. Check the grade around the foundation
Soil should slope away from the house at least six inches over the first ten feet. If you can roll a marble back toward your basement, you have a problem.
4. Test your sump pump
Pour a five-gallon bucket of water into the basin. If the float doesn't activate within 10 seconds, replace the pump now — not the night a pipe bursts in February.
5. Schedule the inspection you've been putting off
Most coatings cure best between 50°F and 80°F. The window closes fast in Utah; we work into November using cold-cure primers, but most of the industry packs up in mid-October. Book early.