Ice damage can be devastating. These Are Winter-Proofing Tips You’ll Be Glad You Knew
Ice, wind, and snow can have devastating effects on your home and your car. Luckily, there are steps you can take to prevent damage and save yourself from repair expenses by utilizing winter-proofing tips. Get started when the leaves begin to turn so your home and car are well-prepared for the winter. To learn the steps to take, read below.
Seal Air Leaks
Keep as much warm air inside as possible. Use caulk to seal cracks around windows to seal all the warm air in your home.
If your door doesn’t close firmly, your home could also be losing warmth. You may consider installing storm doors. These doors have adjustable strike plates, which you can move to keep the door from blowing off the hinges. You can also add door sweeps to close the gap between the floor and the bottom of the door.
Trim Branches
Trim any hanging branches, ensuring there are no branches near your roof. Additionally, you can hire a tree service to remove any dangerous branches near the perimeter of your home.
Prepare Emergency Kits
Keep a stash of emergency supplies ready for winter disasters. You should be stocked with road salt, non-perishable food, flashlights, batteries, and related items. If you need medications, be sure to include them in your kit as well.
Inform Your Insurer
Often, your insurer will be able to shoulder the costs of winterizing your home. If you are buying stormproof shutters or devices that detect high water flow, your insurer will likely cover the costs.
Protect Your Pipes
When chilly weather strikes, your pipes are most likely the first to feel the damage. To prevent frozen pipes, wrap basement and crawl space pipes with insulation. If temperatures continue to dip below freezing, open cabinet doors to allow warm air to flow around your pipes.
Invest in a Power Generator
When a storm strikes in the winter, your power might go out. And no power means no heating system. So, it would be best if you install a standby generator in your home. You can buy a moderately sized generator for as little as $500.
Install a Carbon Monoxide Detector
Furnaces and other sources of heat are essential in the winter. But these sources of heat leak carbon monoxide if you don’t properly ventilate. A carbon monoxide detector will alert you of any potential problems.
Clean Gutters & Drains
Ensure leaves and debris aren’t clogging your gutters and drains. By cleaning your gutters and drains regularly, you can avoid cracking gutters, ice dam buildup, and melting snow leaking into your basement.
Keep reading on the next page for more tips on how to winterproof your house.
