3 Things You Should Do To Prepare for Winter Storm
As winter approaches, homeowners should ready themselves and their property for the possibility of a winter storm. The harsh cold temperatures and heavy snow pose several problems and could create hazardous conditions if not armed correctly. The following are several things to do ahead of the season to minimize trouble.
- Prepare an Emergency Kit
If snow mounts, blocking streets and trapping you inside, you may require several essentials to remain nourished and comfortable. Don’t wait until the meteorologists see a blizzard coming. At that point, stores get rushed, and items may run short. Ready yourself now with most of the supplies by using a winter storm checklist. The following are important to have on hand as they maintain hydration, body temperature and safety:
- Canned food and bottled water
- Portable phone charger
- Battery-operated radio
- First-aid kit
- Batteries
- Extra Pet food
- Flashlights
- Warm clothing and blankets
- Jumper cables
- Shovel
- Evaluate the Roof
Is your rooftop strong and durable enough to handle the snow’s mounting weight? A weak set of shingles permits leakage or could cave in. Both of these situations are costly and problematic for you and others. Have professionals look over the structure and consider adding a predictive monitoring device that warns you of a potential collapse. Awareness is vital to getting yourself and others out of a dangerous situation.
- Secure the Pipes
Another issue with frigid temps is that they could harm the pipes, busting the water lines as the fluid inside freezes to ice. Insulate the lines outside. This extra padding provides you a bit of extra heat that could permit a better water flow and, hopefully, circumvent those irritating busts.
Winter storms are serious, and it’s best to be proactive about your storm safeguards. By taking the time to secure the home and gather the proper supplies, you could minimize frustrating situations such as pipe floods, personal hunger and roof subsiding.
