Written by Denise Fedorow, DIR, Inc.
BRR! The winter winds have been a ‘blowing—how is your home holding up? If you didn’t take the time to take precautions before winter started it’s not too late to take action now.
As a Nor’easter blows through the East Coast, whether you are there or elsewhere in the country, here are some tips to protect your home and family through whatever Mother Nature decides to throw at us.
- Prepare For Lost Power: Stock up on flashlights and batteries. Battery operated camping lanterns are handy to have around as are LED lights. Know where they are located so if you’re caught off guard by a sudden power loss, you’re not stumbling around in the dark. Keeping a flashlight in each room is a good idea to keep from getting injured if you’re plunged into sudden darkness.
- Practice Candle Safety—use candle lanterns and other candle holders where the flame is contained. Tealights in plastic cups are the safest form of candles because of their shorter burn time. Candles that burn down the center where the flame can be hidden and forgotten should be avoided. Always be sure that no flammable materials are too close to your candles.
- Practice Space Heater and Generator Safety—gas heaters and gas operated generators shouldn’t be operated inside the home or garage where carbon monoxide can build up. Electric space heaters should be monitored, turned off when not home and kept away from flammable materials.
- Cover Windows and Doors—leading to exterior or unheated porches. Cover them with plastic film from the inside to protect from the cold north winds blowing and save on your heating expenses.
- During Severe Freezing Temperatures—allow faucets to drip just a little to keep your pipes from bursting.
- Watch Out For—those pretty icicles hanging from your gutters! If icicles are forming on your home those are areas where heat is escaping. Plus they can be a danger—carefully remove them so you don’t damage the gutters or yourself before they become deadly frozen weapons waiting for a victim—like the UPS guy!
- Change Furnace Filters Frequently—to keep the air circulating in your home healthier and avoid problems with your furnace’s efficiency.
- Keep Salt or Ice Melt on Hand and Handy—often shoveling or snow blowing your drive and walk isn’t enough to make them safe. Similar to ‘black ice’, concrete and stone surfaces can leave glazed patches that can prove treacherous if not treated.
Taking these precautions now, even though we’re nearly midway through winter, will still result in cost savings and avoid potential problems.
And, of course if you have questions about your homeowners insurance policy. We at Mahar Insurance are always here to serve you.
So, now tell us are there any Winter Safety Tips we missed?