Winter Prep Profile: Your Home or Business

12/5/2018 (Permalink)

We’re officially into December and with a new month, comes new Profile Friday subjects!

This month we’re focusing on how you can prepare for the deep winter months to come.

At this point, we’re not even officially into winter yet, but we’re already experiencing wintry conditions. So, it’s good to take the necessary precautions now before conditions get worse.

In this profile, we’re going to talk about steps you can take to ensure your home and/or business is ready for the season. (Most of this advice can be used in either your home or business!)

The American Red Cross recommends the following advice:

• Protect your pipes from freezing (this is such an important step, we’re going to do an entire blog on it in our profile next week!)
• Make sure your home heating sources are installed properly and are clean and in good, working condition.
• Make sure your home is properly insulated.
• Caulk or weather-strip any drafty doors or windows.
• Install storm windows.
• Consider buying back up heating sources like a wood stove or space heater. Make sure those heating sources are properly cleaned and maintained.
• Make sure to keep extra fuel for heating sources on hand in case of storms. (But, make sure to take caution with extra fuel sources to protect against fires.)
• Consider installing a portable generator.
• Ensure you have carbon monoxide detectors installed on every level of your home and in every bedroom.
• Consider buying flood insurance. Flood insurance is not part of a home-owner’s policy, but is purchased through the National Flood Insurance Program.
• Clean your gutters.
• Look for loose tree limbs and other debris in your yard that could be blown around during a storm and get rid of them so they don’t cause damage to your property.
• Make sure your sump pump is working.

It’s also a good time to remind you about Winter Storm and Blizzard Warnings. According to the Red Cross, a Winter Storm Warning means that life-threatening, severe winter conditions have begun or will begin in the next 24 hours. The Red Cross says a Blizzard Warning means there will be sustained winds or frequent gusts of 35 miles per hour or greater, plus considerable falling or blowing snow reducing visibility to less than a quarter mile, expected to prevail for three hours or longer.

If severe weather is in the forecast, make sure to prepare your home with the supplies you need to ride out the storm. It’s also a good idea to stay home during bad weather if you can! If you must be on the road, take precautions and look out for our winter prep profile about safety in your car!