Winters can be long and harsh, and they can take a toll on your home and property. Here are a few tips to make sure you are prepared for what may come this winter.
Remove hoses from outdoor faucets, and make sure they are drained and turned off to prevent water lines from freezing and bursting. Insulate pipes in unheated areas like crawlspaces or the basement. Check your gutters to make sure they are clear of leaves and debris. If they are full and snow piles up on them, the weight can cause them to fall down and also damage parts of your roof. Look around the property for trees with broken or loose branches. Trim or remove these so the snow doesn’t bring them down and cause safety hazards.
Inside your home, make sure your boiler or furnace is working well so there are no heating issues. If you use a fireplace, have you recently had it swept? Chimney fires are extremely dangerous and can spread quickly throughout your home. Check that your fire and carbon monoxide detectors are working. It’s not a bad idea to get a generator. If you lose power, a generator can keep your family warm and able to have some electricity.
