Cold Weather Precautions for Homeowners

Cold weather has officially arrived in Southwest Missouri! Brr! Is your home prepared for winter weather? Winter elements can cause some serious problems for homeowners if you’re not careful. Dodge winter weather damage to your home by taking a few simple cold weather precautions.

Frozen Pipes

Restricted water flow. Frost under the sink. Water leaks. And worse, water damage! If you have frozen pipes, you have some major plumbing issues on your hands. Although they can cause serious damage, frozen pipes are easily preventable. 

One of the most common causes of freezing pipes is leaving your water hose connected. It’s a simple, forgettable step. Go unhook your hose before temperatures drop below freezing. Another tip: Don’t let your pipes sit unused for an extended period of time. If you’re going out of town for a few days, turn a faucet or two on just the tiniest bit, until you see a slow drip. This small amount of water is all it takes to keep your pipes from freezing.

Escaping Heat

If your utility bills are higher in these colder months, it’s probably not your heater’s fault. This is the time of year you’re going to notice bad insulation. Heat escapes through cracks in your walls, doors, windows, and roof. In fact, up to 40% of your heat loss can be traced back to escaping through your roof. Tackle those damaged or missing shingles now, before the cold weather is here to stay!

YOUR GUIDE TO HOME HEATING SYSTEMS: FURNACES, BOILERS, AND HEAT PUMPS

Leaky Roof

Unfortunately, there is a laundry list of problems caused by a deficient roof. Not only will your heat go out, but water (and other things?) will come in! The weight from a blanket of wet snow will only make matters worse. Winter is a dangerous time of year to be up on the roof, so we recommend patching those holes now. Making sure your roof is reliable is one of the most important cold weather precautions!

Clogged Gutters

Have you cleaned out all of those fall leaves from your gutters? Clogged gutters are a leaky roofs’ evil accomplice. When your gutters are clogged, water is more likely to pool on your roof or near the foundation of your home. What’s next? You guessed it. Water leaking into your roof, trim or walls! Take a little bit of time to clean out your gutters now in order to save you a world of headache later!

Chimney Fires

Snuggling up to a crackling fire in the fireplace is something we look forward to all year long. But do we plan ahead for it? It can be so easy to want to light the fire on that first chilly day without taking cold weather precautions to get the chimney ready. A chimney should be cleaned and inspected once a year to reduce the risk of house fires, and fall is a great time to do it. 

Click here to find a CSIA certified professional to inspect and clean your chimney.

Downed Branches

Tree limbs can fall any time of year. Whether it’s high winds in the spring, thunderstorms in the summer, or snow fall in the winter, falling branches pose a threat to your home, fence, and landscaping. Winter is especially dangerous, however, because ice and snow put a lot of strain on your trees. Protect your home and yard by keeping dead branches trimmed from large trees and trim back the trees nearest your roof on a regular basis.