7 Ways To Protect Your Home During Winter

Extreme weather can cause severe problems for homeowners, especially in winter. It would help if you took the right measures to protect your home against damage due to snow and freezing temperatures. Unlike hurricanes or hail storms, freezing events are often silent so that they can create a false sense of security. The various structures and mechanical components of your home may face an extra burden when it comes to defending against this hazard. Therefore, embrace these effective strategies to safeguard your home during a freeze.

1. Guard your pipes

Ensure you keep outdoor plumbing fixtures from freezing when the weather starts turning cold. Consider disconnecting and storing your garden hose. While at it, switch off water water supply to the outdoor faucets drain lines, and insulate hose bibs when possible. You also need to take care of indoor plumbing pipes that run along the exterior walls as well. Ensuring the wall insulation meets the required standards is a great idea.

Outdoor fixtures like spigots are often exposed to freezing temperatures. They are the first things ice may build upon. Fortunately, protecting them and reducing the risks of burst pipes is easy and affordable. Visit your local hardware supply store and shop for insulated outdoor or faucet covers. This investment will save thousands in damage and repairs.

2. Seal holes and cracks

Seal small holes and cracks where cables and phone lines enter your home. Invest in a can of foam insulation and close the openings. Weatherstripping and spray foam insulation are great remedies for cracks around your doors and windows. It’s worth noting that older homes may have less insulation in the attic. You may want to add more to these areas to help conserve heat in winter and keep the air cool in summer.

3. Feel for under-door drafts and seal windows

You lose a lot of energy through improperly sealed doors. Fortunately, you can fix this by using a draft snake to replace the weather stripping in these places. It would be best to ensure your windows are properly caulked to help substantially cut your heating bills.

4. Clean roof gutters

Choked roof gutters can increase your home’s risk of ice accumulation. However, this is one big threat you don’t want. Make time to clean your gutters before the freezing temperatures arrive. You may use gutter screens or helmets to prevent leaves from wreaking havoc. Another practical way to save your roof from cold weather is to deploy roof snow guard systems. This is because your roof is the first thing that takes a hit when winter weather hails down from the skies. Snow and ice build-up usually create expensive and dangerous problems for homeowners. Installing a roof snow guard system will reduce the risks and ease maintenance while adding beauty and functionality to your roof. 

5. Prepare for vacations and update your insurance

Are you planning to go for an extended vacation in the freezing season? Consider shutting off the water and draining your plumbing systems. This simple habit will keep you from worrying about freezing pipes and plumbing failures while you are away.

Create easy access to the water shut-off valves so that you can immediately deactivate your home’s water system when a pipe or waterline bursts. If the emergency shut-off valve is not functional, get a professional plumber to work on it; it can save your home from further damage. Additionally, you may want to consult your home insurer and update your policy to ensure it can provide good coverage for potential losses in freezing temperatures.

6. Keep water flowing

If some of your indoor faucets are installed on improperly insulated exterior walls, make sure you set them to a slow drip whenever it becomes cold. This idea is especially crucial during bitter cold spells. Faucets and pipes situated along the exterior walls are prone to freezing. To guarantee maximum effectiveness, make sure both the cold and hot lines are slightly open to reduce vulnerability. Beyond that, you may also want to consider opening cabinet doors to allow the room air to warm the pipes.

7. Close your garage doors

Try to reduce how long your garage door remains open if it’s attached to your home. Closing the door will help keep cold air at bay and protect plumbing fixtures in the garage and pipes in the shared wall between the house and garage. This trick further insulates adjacent rooms. You can save a lot of money on heating by trying it out, so keep this in mind.