Freezing Weather Home Preparations

1: Guard Your Water Pipes

To protect your outdoor water faucets from freezing, disconnect all garden hoses and store them as the weather shifts. Make sure to shut off the water to your outdoor faucets, drain the lines, and cover them with a faucet cover.

2: Keep Water Flowing

When the weather is below freezing it is a good idea to turn on your faucet to a slight drip with both cold and hot water used. When pipes are located near exterior walls they are not installed as well and have a higher chance of freezing. Another helpful tip is to leave your cabinet doors open to let warm air reach the pipes. If want to take an extra step you can wrap your pipes in a towel or blanket to add an extra level of protection.

3: Clean Gutters

Cleaning out debris in your gutters can help prevent ice damming and large icicles from forming. Clogged gutters can cause snow to become trapped on the roof and cause damage to your shingles or integrity of your roof.

4: Seal Cracks

Cracks can cause cold air to enter your home and warm air to escape. Closing these cracks can help prevent your pipes from freezing and making your heater work hard to keep you and your home warm.

5: Prepare For A Power Outage

Before the storm: check flashlights and portable radios, be sure to have extra batteries on hand, fully charge all electronics, prepare generators, make sure you have extra blankets, coats, hats and mittens.

During the storm: use 911 for true emergencies only, use flashlights, instead of candles as much as possible, don’t run your generator indoors, dress warmly, in layers, unplug electronics to protect from a power surge.