Winters are coming; as the weather changes, it brings rain, sleet, and snow with it. In this dreary weather, we must prepare to keep ourselves and our homes safe.
Last winter, a strong gale shattered a window in my attic! We watched in horror as rain poured in from the broken window and glass shards littered the stairway.
To avoid such dangerous scenarios, it’s better to prepare well in advance. Moreover, it’s less expensive to take precautionary measures; let me tell you, boarding a window is much cheaper than buying a new window altogether.
This article highlights some essential tips to make your home safe in the winter weather. I have divided it into two sections; the first section will address safety measures for the outer side of our homes, while the second section will guide the readers on what to do from the inside.
Let’s begin!
Winter Preparation For The Outside Of Home
Safeguard your home from outside by taking the following steps.
- Trim the trees. Heavy snow and ice make the branches and stem of the trees go weaker. These branches and tree stems can easily break in winter winds. It is better to cut them in advance, as they can damage your rooftop, car or injure you or someone else passing by your dwelling.
- It’s time to clean the gutters. Remove leaves, sticks, or debris from the gutter to let the melting snow and ice pass without trouble. It prevents ice damming, else the ceilings and walls of your home can start dripping. Stagnant water can also damage your walls and bring disease.
- Install gutter guards. A gutter guard stops the debris from getting into the gutter.
- Check the roof. Check if the seals around chimneys and vent stacks are in the right position. I would suggest regularly clearing off your rooftop from snow. Remove excessive moisture and debris. Cement the broken ceiling or walls, or minute cracks. It prevents the cold, ice, and moisture from entering your cozy home.
- Check your pipes. In winter, outside water can freeze and burst the exterior pipes of your home. It is important to prevent frozen pipes. You can use foam, heating cables, or pipe sleeves to make sure that the pipes stay warm throughout winter.
- Install weather stripping around the corner of the windows and entrance or backyard door.
- Repair the broken staircase, which can become fatal if covered with snow.
Winter Preparation From Inside The Home
Next, come to the inside of your home. Low temperature and ice can also damage the interior of your home. For instance, it can wreak havoc on water pipes and the heating system.
- The most important tip for inside the home is to shift the combustible materials away from the fireplace, space heaters, and wooden stoves.
- Place an emergency pressure release valve in the plumbing system of your house. This protects the plumbing system against the pressure applied by the freezing pipes.
- The next tip is to protect the pipes in the loft and other small spaces. I would suggest buying UL®-listed models of heating cables with built-in thermostats; these will turn ON the heat on when it is required.
- Make sure your house has a gas safety certificate to make sure all the gas-related appliances are in working condition. Boilers and heaters are working overtime in winters; therefore, it’s best to get them checked before winter starts to ensure they are in proper working condition.
- If the basement of your house is vulnerable to flooding in winter, make sure to do plastic coating on the internal basement walls. Make sure that the gutters are clean to keep the water running during rain and snow. Moreover, purchase shades for the windows to keep the rain from getting in.
- Never forget to prepare your home for a power outage. In winter, with heavy snow and ice, electricity failure is not something new, so be prepared for it. Of course, you would never want to sit in the dark and cold. I would suggest investing in power alternatives; battery-operated lights, solar panels, and propane tanks are some options.
Final Thoughts
The Winter season is dreaded by most. The only good thing in winters is the time spent inside your cozy home with your family. To make sure your home is safe for your family, take the above steps to keep yourself and your home protected. It is better to take action in advance rather than fix the damage later.
Author Bio:
Shoaib provides ghostwriting and copywriting services. His educational background in the technical field and business studies helps him in tackling topics ranging from career and business productivity to web development and digital marketing. He occasionally writes articles for gas safety certs.