Happy Home InsiderBaby, it’s cold outside, which can only mean one thing—winter storms are here to stay. And while many of us love a good snow day, the reality is that heavy snow and ice can pose some serious risks to your home. So while the kids are crossing their fingers for a day off school, you should be prepping your home to take on the seasonal elements in stride.
Winterize Your Pipes
One of the biggest threats a blizzard brings is frozen pipes. This is because water expands as it freezes, which can cause your pipes to crack or burst. As with any home damage involving water, it’s a serious and costly issue that can be avoided with a few precautions:
- Drain the water from your outdoor faucets and sprinkler system. Your outside faucets should have a separate shut-off valve that you can turn off, and then turn the faucets on to drain. Finish by covering the faucets with a foam insulator.
- Inside the house, wrap exposed pipes with heat tape, foam, or rubber insulation sleeves. This usually includes the hot water heater, washing machine, and dryer. Take special care to protect the pipes that run through unheated areas of the home, like the basement, attic, and garage. Check for leaks and cracks as you go.
- Know where the main water valve is so that you can quickly turn it off in the event a pipe does burst. Also turn the water off if you’ll be leaving the home for an extended period of time, like a winter vacation.
- When leaving for short periods of time, like going to work, don’t turn the heat down too drastically. While it may be great for the electrical bill, it can be bad for your pipes.
- During severe cold or storms, or whenever your pipes feel especially at risk, open the cabinet doors under the kitchen and bathroom sink to help keep the air in there warm.
- If your pipes do freeze, call a plumber immediately. In the meantime, turn the faucets on to drip so they can drain.
Prevent Ice Dams
Ice dams are yet another risk of water damage caused by winter weather. This is when a ridge of ice forms at the edge of the roof, which prevents melting snow from properly draining. Instead of going through your gutter system, the excess water could leak through the roof into your home.
Luckily, there are steps you can take to prevent ice dams and keep your roof protected:
- Clogged gutters and downspouts are the main cause of ice dams, so clean them regularly. Invest in a roof rake to safely clear them from the ground and avoid going on a ladder.
- If you feel your roof is especially prone, you can hire a roofer to install heat cables along the eaves, or install your own rubberized ice and water shield. Another solution is sealing with a moisture barrier.
- Ice dams are caused by melting snow, and the faster it melts, the bigger risk of excess water pooling and refreezing. Seal places that may allow warm air to leak from your home and increase melting, like chimneys, vent pipes, and light fixtures.
- Likewise, keep the attic cool, as a warm attic equals a warm roof.
- Look for icicles as they are warning signs that an ice dam is forming.
- If you do spot an ice dam, resist the temptation to chip it off, as this could result in roof damage.
Protect Your Roof
Ice dams or not, your roof needs to be in top condition to brace a winter storm. This means trimming the trees and removing dead branches, as heavy snow and ice can make them fall on your roof. (This could also spare you a power outage from a branch falling on a power line.)
Also make sure to patch or replace worn shingles to strengthen the barrier against leaks. Another reason your roof needs to be strong is because heavy snow could actually cause a weak roof to collapse—a worst case scenario in the middle of blizzard. If you decided to invest in a roof rake, you can use it to sweep excess snow off the roof and lessen the weight.
Insulate Your Attic
Once again, it all comes down to getting your roof ready to battle the winter storm conditions.
As stated, a warm roof can cause snow to melt faster and then refreeze into ice damns. When you insulate the attic, this has the twofold benefit of sealing heat into the living areas while keeping the attic cool. This will in turn keep the roof cool and allow the snow to melt at a safer rate.
You can do this yourself by purchasing rolls of unfaced insulation, and unrolling them onto the floor of your attic. Take care to cover the spaces between the joists, and you could even run a second layer in the other direction.
Audit Your Heating System
No doubt you’ll be using the heater, fireplace, and space heaters during a blizzard, so take measures to reduce fire hazards. Change your furnace filter at the start of every season, and then at least every other month. Hire a professional to clean the chimney and clear it of debris. Unplug space heaters when not in use and keep combustibles at a safe distance from all heat sources. Also make sure that your fire extinguisher is working and up to date, just in case.
Invest in a Generator
If budget allows, consider getting a generator as a backup power source should a storm cause power loss. Not only will this help with heating and lighting, but it can keep your sump pump, fire, and burglar alarms in operation—all critical components to keeping your home safe.
Ultimately, with the right precautions, you can spend snow days sledding with the family instead of fixing a home crisis. What other winter storm prep tips do you have?
