Winter is upon us, and that means some potential dangers in and around your home. These 5 smart winter safety tips will help keep you out of trouble.
Winter weather can be brutal and if your home isn’t properly prepared for it, you’ll end up spending a lot of money on repairs and urgent fixes.
The first things to check are the contact points between your home and outside such as cracks in the walls and windows, the roof, and the pipes. Next, make sure your electrical system is up to date, and finally, insulate the entire home to trap the warm air inside.
Read below to discover 5 easy winter safety tips to keep your home warm, dry, and damage-proof during the coldest season.
1. Check Your Roof for Cracks or Damage
One of the most important cold weather tips is to check your roof for cracks, holes, or dampness. This is crucial for the weather preparation of your home and preventing cold air from entering inside.
If your roof needs fixing, hire contractors in the fall before the first snowfall. Otherwise, the snow will turn into water and then into ice and make the damage un-repairable.
2. Insulate the Pipes Inside the Home
When you’re preparing for cold weather, don’t forget to check the pipes, both inside and outside the home. If there are any water lines outside, leave them slightly open so the water can drip to prevent freezing.
As for indoor pipes bordering exterior walls, place a piece of thick cloth around the point of exit to keep them insulated. Freezing water expands and can easily cause bursting of the pipes, leading to extreme water damage.
3. Check the Ventilation and Insulation Around the Home
Part of preparing for winter weather is making sure the warm air is trapped inside and the cold air stays outside.
Warm air moves upwards, but in order to stay inside the house instead of disappearing through cracks and vents, your walls and attic need quality insulation.
If your home has an attic that’s not insulated properly, you’re looking at a very expensive heating season. Add a layer of insulation in the rest of the rooms as well, even in the ones you’re not using.
4. Check the Electrical System
Checking the electrical system around the house is a must in the winter, especially around the holidays. You’ll be cooking and baking, lighting up the Christmas tree, as well as the Christmas lights outside the house.
This requires a lot of power and if your system is old or faulty, you risk causing a fire. If you don’t know your way around wires, hire professionals to avoid injuries.
5. Clean the Gutters and Trim the Trees
Aside from interior safety tips for winter, you shouldn’t neglect the exterior of the house. Clean the gutters from debris and fallen leaves to allow for rain and snow water to flow freely. Otherwise, it’ll turn into ice and break the gutters.
While you’re outside, trim the tree branches to prevent them from falling when covered in ice and snow.
Now You Know the Best Winter Safety Tips for Your Home!
With winter in full swing, there’s no better time to protect your home from the cold weather.
These winter safety tips will help you insulate your home properly and prevent water and ice damage.
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