Winter can be a very harsh season in many places throughout the United States. Between the extreme cold, snow, ice, and occasional warm temperatures, it can be challenging for your home to adapt. Big temperature changes can be as stressful on parts of your home as weeks of cold are on you.
Fortunately, there’s a lot you can do to keep your home and your family safe this winter, from preventing freezing pipes to having the right emergency supplies. Here are the tips you need this season!
Keep Pipes from Freezing
Frozen pipes can cause significant water damage in your home. It’s important to keep the water in your pipes from freezing and blocking the flow. How can you do that?
First, insulate your pipes. You can also use heat tape or heat cables on pipes that are especially exposed to the elements. Secure outdoor hoses and valves to ensure that cold air can’t come in from outside spigots.
If you’re traveling, let water trickle through one of your faucets to keep water moving, so it’s less likely to freeze. You also want to turn your thermostat no lower than 68 degrees. If the temps will fall below zero, 70 is a better temperature.
Prevent Theft
Unfortunately, the holidays and winter months are a common time for thieves to strike. Burglars know that many people get expensive new items in December, so be on guard.
Make sure you keep your key fob away from your front door and windows, as thieves can use amplifiers to transmit the signal to your driveway and steal a keyless-entry vehicle. Also, if you leave your car running to warm up, be sure it’s securely locked.
The areas around your home should be well-lit with automated lights at night so burglars can’t hide. This is especially important when it gets darker earlier in the wintertime. Be sure to lock windows and doors, and have cameras to see who’s coming and going. You can even have the camera alert your phone when there’s activity.
If you do suffer a loss, make sure to contact your insurance provider right away. Not happy with your insurance? Make sure you are choosing an insurance company that has consistently high star ratings. For example, Freeway Insurance reviews have great star ratings and they’ll give you free quotes to compare rates on home and auto coverage.
Have Emergency Supplies on Hand
Winter can be a dangerous time because it’s easy to get snowed or iced in for a day or longer. Even more importantly, you need supplies in case the power goes out for a period of time.
Here are some of the supplies to keep in your home throughout the winter:
- Food and water for each person for several days
- A hand-crank phone charger
- Battery-operated radio
- Flashlights and new batteries
- Warm clothes
- Plenty of medication
The most important thing is not to use a gasoline-powered heater inside your home. The carbon monoxide will build up quickly, and it can be deadly.
Stay Safe This Winter
Modern lifestyles give us the ability to be incredibly comfortable during most of the winter, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have to prepare for cold weather. Make sure you follow the tips in this guide to keep your home and your family warm, safe, and secure this season!
