Preparing for the winter months doesn’t need to be a burden. Here are some winter property preparation tips from the Z-Team:
Gear Up!
If you live in an area like Michigan that tends to receive heavy snowfalls, consider purchasing a roof rake (different than a garden rake) to pull excess snow off your roof. Letting heavy, wet snow sit on your roof can cause structural and water damage. Secondly, have a bag or bucket of calcium chloride or magnesium chloride handy to remove snow and ice from your sidewalk, driveway, and roof. Be careful not to purchase sodium chloride or rock salt, which can damage various aspects of your property including concrete, shingles, grass, plants, and shrubs. Lastly, make sure to have your trusty snow blower serviced and ready for action!
Clean Those Gutters
If your gutters are left with leaves from the fall, you could be at risk of ice dams during the wintertime. These dams can cause a number of issues including damage to your roof/gutter system, siding, flashing, brick, or windows. Make it a priority to clean them out in the fall after most of the leaves have fallen.
Outdoor Water Supply Winterization
To avoid cracked pipes, broken faucets, and potentially costly repairs, turn off your outdoor water supply for the winter. Many exterior faucets contain a water supply safety shut off valve, most likely in your home. Locate and close the valve, turning off the water supply to the outside. Next, head outdoors, disconnect your hose, and let the water run out of the faucet until it stops. Some exterior faucets are frost free and do not require this action, but if you have an older home or are unsure, it’s best to turn the water off for the winter. To identify if you have a frost-free faucet, the faucet will have a knob that is perpendicular to the house.
Furnace Check
Keeping your furnace tuned up and running through the winter is important in preventing a number of disasters including fires and frozen pipes. Have your furnace checked and cleaned by a professional HVAC technician before it gets too cold. Additionally, having your air ducts cleaned every five years is a fire prevention method that will also reduce dust in the air.
Temperature Check
Do you have a ski trip planned and think you can save some money by turning your heat off? Think again! The majority of frozen pipes residences experience in the wintertime is caused by turning the heat down too low before they leave town. Our recommendation is to keep your heat at a minimum of 58 degrees. Most homes have a programmable thermostat or one with a hold option, which we recommend using. The cost of running your heat while you hit the slopes will be far less than repairing a frozen pipe in the middle of winter.
To speak to a restoration specialist, call the Z Team 24/7 at 800-799-8560 or contact us on our website here.
