How To Prepare Your Home For Winter Storms

3/5/2018 (Permalink)

Winter is very hard on your home and can cause all sorts of damage.  You can prepare your home for winter storm weather by following these safety tips.

Learn to protect your pipes from freezing.  You can drain the water from outdoor supply lines.  You can detach your water house, and close the valve.   Your indoor pipes can be protected as well by dripping the faucet to keep the line open.  You can also open cabinet doors to allow the heat from your home to keep the pipes above freezing. 

Make sure your home is properly insulated. Caulk and weather-strip doors and windowsills to keep cold air out.  You can buy weather stripping to put under any doors that have air leaking from underneath as well. 

Install storm windows or cover windows with plastic from the inside to provide an extra layer of insulation to keep cold air out.  Purchasing premade window kits will allow you to easily unpack the kit and install the plastic to your windows.

Consider buying emergency heating equipment, such as a wood- or coal-burning stove or an electric or kerosene heater.  Remember, for your safety to vent the wood and coal- burning stove.  Electric space heater needs to be at least 3 feet away from anything that can catch on fire, and make sure you unplug the heater when it is not in use.  

Prepare your fireplace, if you have one.  Have a supply of wood on hand so you can use the fireplace as a heating supply in your home.  Always make sure that the fireplace is in good working order and is vented property before use.

SERVPRO of LaGrange Park/North Riverside is always here to help.  If you have damage to your home due to a winter storm, we are here to help.  Call us at 708-240-4873.