If you live in an area where the weather is rarely cold, then odds are you’re not quite as well-versed in protecting your home from freezing temperatures as you could be. And while that may never become an issue for you or your home, it can be catastrophic should an unexpected cold snap occur in your area.
Fortunately, keeping your home protected when temperatures suddenly become frigid isn’t overly complicated. Follow these tips, and you and your home can stay safe and warm through any cold snap.
Cold Weather Concerns for Your Home
If you want to avoid damage to your home during a cold snap, it’s essential to understand what can potentially go wrong. Below are some of the most common cold weather concerns for a home.
- Frozen or burst pipes
- Ice damming
- Heating system issues
- Flooding
If you didn’t already know, ice damming is when snowfall freezes on the edges of your roof, preventing any melted snow from draining correctly and leading to flooding and other damage.
Tips for Protecting Your Home During a Cold Snap
Now that you know some of the biggest concerns for your home when the weather suddenly turns frigid, look at what you can do to prevent these issues.
Keep Your Heat Running
When the temperature drops lower than usual, the obvious first step is to turn on your home’s heating system. But even after it begins to feel nice and warm in your home, remember that it won’t be as warm inside the walls where the pipes are. Keep your thermostat at least 65 degrees Fahrenheit to help prevent the pipes from freezing.
You’ll also want to ensure your home’s heating system is well-maintained and in good working order before the cold snap hits. Get it ready for use in the fall so you’re not surprised with a problem when you need heat the most.
Run Your Faucets at a Drip
When it gets frigid, you must take extra measures to prevent your pipes from freezing and potentially bursting. One of the simplest measures is to leave at least one faucet in your home turned on just enough for it to drip. Moving water won’t freeze as quickly as stationary water, and the drip will also alleviate some pressure on the pipes, which can help prevent them from bursting.
If you know where your water main is, the best plan is to find the farthest faucet away from it and let it drip. This drip will maximize the amount of piping that the water flows through. However, running more than one faucet or any faucet is better than a burst pipe.
Know How to Shut Your Water Off
Be prepared for the worst by learning where your water main shutoff is and how to use it. If a pipe does burst, this can be critical in preventing severe damage to your home.
Remove Ice Damming
There are a few things you can do to prevent ice from damming on your roof — like ventilating your attic and sealing airflow leaks — but if a cold snap hits unexpectedly and it’s simply too late for preventive measures, there are ways to avoid damage to your home by getting rid of those ice dams.
You can pull snow off the roof with a rake to stop ice dam damage. To get rid of the ice dams, use snow melt to melt the ice down or a hammer to break them up. Just exercise extreme caution when using a ladder in icy conditions.
Don’t Leave Your Home Unattended Too Long
Extreme water damage can occur to your home if you’re away for several hours while a pipe has burst. If you’ll be out of the house for any extended period during a cold snap, ask a friend or neighbor to stop by and ensure everything is safe and dry.
Think Ahead and Act Swiftly to Protect Your Home
Preventive measures are always the best option for protecting your home from freezing temperatures, but when a cold snap blindsides you, the next best thing is taking swift action. Follow these tips when that cold snap hits; your home should have no problem getting through warmer weather.
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