It's Time To Get Your Home Ready For Winter

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Dan Brigley isn't putting up Christmas lights, but what he's doing could make him just as happy. He is getting his house ready for the brutal winters that usually come with living in Minnesota.

"You can see how quick it goes. It's almost fun actually. For me, it's a blast," said Brigley.

He is putting de-icing cable on his roof. He spent $40 on 80 feet of it, but it could save him thousands in the long run.

Once plugged in the cable will melt whatever ice builds up on Dan's roof. As the owner of Brigley Roofing Company, he knows first-hand that a little task like this could have saved a lot of leaks and roof damage last winter.

"Last winter was the worst winter I ever remember. We had snow in the middle of November and it stayed right up through the middle of April," said Brigley.

"After bad winters, people tend to get worried early," said Greg Bauer of Gregie's Small Engine Repair.

From the roof top to the small engine shop, Greg has been down this road before. It's busy now, but he said the weekend before Halloween there were snow blowers from wall to wall. It was so packed, you almost couldn't walk.

He's getting caught up, but business is still three times as busy as it was a year ago at this time. Snow equals money, that can carry over to the next fall.

"You get another year with 100 inches of snow, everybody's worried," said Greg.

Greg said the most common problem he sees is old gas. He recommends changing the gas out every 45 to 60 days.