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Ice, snow and
wind can have devastating consequences on your home. The time to
winterize is when the leaves begin to turn and not when the snow begins
to fall.
Homeowners should take the following precautions:
Maintain gutters
Remove leaves, acorns, sticks and other debris from gutters so melting
snow and ice can flow freely. This can prevent "ice damming"–a condition
where water is unable to properly drain through the gutters and instead
seeps into the house causing water to drip from the ceiling and walls.
You may also consider installing gutter guards. Available in most
hardware and home stores, gutter guards are screens that prevent debris
from entering the gutter and direct the flow of water away from the
house and into the ground.
Trim trees and remove dead branches
Ice, snow and wind can cause weak trees or branches to break, damaging
your home, car or injuring someone walking on your property.
Check insulation
Add extra insulation to attics, basements and crawl spaces. If too much
heat escapes through the attic it can cause snow or ice to melt on the
roof. The water re-freezes causing more snow and ice to build up. This
can result in a collapsed roof, and can contribute to ice damming.
Ideally, the attic should be five to ten degrees warmer than the outside
air. Well-insulated basements and crawl spaces will also help protect
pipes from freezing.
Maintain pipes
Wrap pipes with heating tape and insulate unfinished rooms such as
garages that frequently have exposed pipes. Also, check for cracks and
leaks. Have minor pipe damage fixed immediately to prevent much costlier
repairs in the future.
Keep the house warm
The temperature in your house should be at least 65 degrees. The
temperature inside the walls where the pipes are located is
substantially colder than the walls themselves. A temperature lower than
65 degrees will not keep the pipes from freezing.
Check heating systems
The proper use and maintenance of furnaces, fireplaces and wood-burning
stoves can prevent fire and smoke damage. Have furnaces, boilers and
chimneys serviced at least once a year. Make sure that smoke and fire
alarms are working properly and consider installing a carbon dioxide
detector.
Maintain steps and handrails
Broken stairs and banisters can become lethal when covered with snow and
ice. Make repairs now to prevent someone from falling and seriously
being injured.
Get to know your plumbing
Learn how to shut the water off and know where your pipes are located.
If your pipes freeze, time is of the essence. The quicker you can shut
off the water or direct your plumber to the problem, the better chance
you have to prevent the pipes from bursting.
Hire a licensed contractor
Have a professional survey your home for any structural damage. If
damage is discovered, have it repaired immediately so further damage
will not occur during the winter. Also, find out about ways to prevent
water damage due to snow-related flooding. Plastic coatings for internal
basement walls, sump-pumps and other methods can prevent damage to your
home and belongings.
Plan for being away
If you are not going to be in your home this winter for an extended
period of time, have the water system drained by a professional to keep
pipes from freezing or bursting. Also, have someone check on your home
on a regular basis. If there is a problem, it can be fixed quickly, thus
lessening any damage. Activity at your home will also reduce the
likelihood that it will be burglarized.
Standard homeowners policies cover winter-related disasters such as
burst pipes, ice dams, wind damage caused by weight of ice or snow.
Damage to homes caused by flooding is usually excluded from most
standard homeowner policies. Flood insurance is available from the
National Flood Insurance Program (
http://www.fema.gov/nfip/a_facts.htm ) Ask your insurance
professional about flood insurance, as well as specific advice about
winter-proofing your home.
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