The right tools and
pre-winter maintenance will ensure that your home and your family are safe from
cold-weather threats.
Homeowners
in cold-weather climates, such as the Northeast, Midwest, and mountain areas,
face icy conditions, blizzards, and other cold-weather storms. Beyond requiring
a quick trip to the convenience store for milk and bread, snow, ice, freezing
rain, and extreme cold can threaten your home's structure and your safety.
Therefore, it's important to take measures and invest in the resources you'll
need to deal effectively with winter's challenges before it gets into full
swing.
Understand the Threats
Blizzards: Storms with heavy winds and large amounts of snow accumulation can cause
roof or other structural damage and leave you isolated.
Ice storms and ice dams: Ice storms coat structures, trees, power lines, cars,
roads-and virtually everything else-with ice. As the ice melts, large chunks
can fall and cause injury to anyone below. When ice melts during the day and
then re-freezes at night, ice dams, which block water from flowing in the
gutter, may form. This condition can force water back under the roof line and
cause leaks.
Sleet or freezing rain: Combinations of snow and freezing rain may cause slippery
conditions and coat roads, sidewalks, and driveways with ice when temperatures
drop.
Protect Yourself
The
Federal Emergency Management Agency recommends that home owners have shovels on
hand, as well as melting agents, such as rock salt. Some of the new, more
environmentally friendly de-icers include calcium magnesium acetate and sand to
improve traction. Be sure to stock up early in the season, as these agents tend
to be in short supply during periods before a well-publicized storm.
FEMA
also advises you have enough fuel to maintain heat in your home, as well as a
backup heating source: firewood if the home has a working fireplace, or a
generator to power heaters in case of power failure. However, use caution as
these can represent fire hazards when not used correctly. Be sure to follow
directions explicitly and keep a fire extinguisher. Some generators and
fireplaces also require proper ventilation, according to the Institute for
Business and Home Safety, so follow directions carefully and keep them away
from curtains or other flammable items.
Stock
up on extra blankets, warm clothing, and enough food and water to sustain your
family in case of a few days of isolation. And a transistor radio with fresh
batteries can help keep you updated on news and information in case of a power
outage.
Protect Your Home
Before
winter, there are some precautions you can take to protect your home from the
ravages of cold weather storms:
Winterize your home. Check shutters, siding and other exterior materials to
ensure they're secure, says retired contractor and home improvement expert and
writer John Wilder of Jacksonville, Fla. High winds, ice, and moisture from
winter storms can easily strip off such outside elements if they're loose.
Be
sure that gutters are clear of debris and that walkways are even and don't
represent tripping hazards that can be exacerbated with snow or ice. Caulk
drafty windows and apply weather stripping to doors-both inexpensive strategies
that can keep heat in your home. Air sealing can help you save about $350 in
energy costs or one-third of your average annual heating and cooling costs. The
average annual home energy bill is about $2,200, according to Energy Star, of
which about $1,000 represents heating and cooling. An assortment of air sealing
materials and tools, including silicone foam, caulk, aluminum flashing for
flues, and additional insulation, will run roughly $100-$350.
Winterize pipes. Be sure your pipes, especially those exposed or in unheated
areas like crawl spaces, are wrapped in insulation to prevent freezing and
bursting. Also, learn where your water shut-off valves are so you can turn off
the water supply in case of a leak. Six feet of insulation can cost anywhere
from $7-$17; it's available at most home improvement stores.
Trim tree branches. Branches that overhang
roofs or areas where you park your car -- or which are simply overgrown --
represent a risk to structures, vehicles, and people. Keep trees trimmed and
remove those that are weak or sickly to prevent them from falling on or near
your home. Tree trimming and removal pricing varies greatly, and you may have
additional restrictions if you live in an historic community or if the trees
are close to power lines.
Check
with your municipality about any regulations and contact your local Chamber of
Commerce, municipal offices, or contractor rating sites like MerchantCircle.com
or AngiesList.com to get the names of reputable pros. Tree trimming and removal
can be dangerous, so don't attempt it on your own unless you're experienced.
By
keeping your home in good repair and stocking up on the supplies you'll need
before the rush for rock salt and shovels begins, you'll be as ready as possible
to tough out the storm.
Article From
HouseLogic.com | By: Gwen Moran
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