Winterizing your home and vehicles

December 10th, 2009 at 2:05 pm by Jamie Shackelford under 10 On Your Side

When “Old Man Winter” starts knocking on your door, it’s important to remember to protect your home and vehicles. Recently insurance companies have asked us to remind people of how they can protect their valuable assets against the elements. Here’s some tips for you to keep in mind during these cold winter months:

TIPS FOR OUTSIDE YOUR HOME:

* Clean out gutters. Remove leaves, sticks and other debris from gutters, so melting snow and ice can flow freely. This can prevent ice damming — a condition where water is unable to drain through the gutters and instead seeps into the house causing water to drip from the ceiling and walls.

* Repair steps and handrails. This may prevent someone from falling and being seriously injured. Broken stairs and banisters can become lethal when covered with snow and ice.
 
* Seal cracks and holes in outside walls and foundations. Use caulking to protect water pipes and make sure that skylights and other roof openings have proper weather stripping to prevent snowmelt from seeping in.
 
 TIPS FOR INSIDE YOUR HOME:
  
 * Add extra insulation to attics, basements and crawl spaces. If too much heat escapes through the attic, it can cause snow or ice to melt on the roof. Water can then re-freeze, causing more snow and ice to build up.
 
 * Have the heating system serviced. Furnaces, boilers and chimneys should be serviced at least once a year to prevent fire and smoke damage.
 
* Check pipes. Look closely for cracks and leaks and have the pipes repaired immediately. Wrap exposed pipes with pipe insulation or heating tape. Allow your faucets to drip lukewarm water to minimize the chances of a pipe freeze. If you plan to travel or be away from home for an extended period of time, have someone check pipes and the temperature in your home on a regular basis. Turn the water off and/or have the water system drained by a professional to keep pipes from freezing.
 
* Make sure that smoke and fire alarms are working properly.
 
* Learn how to shut the water off and know where your pipes are located. If your pipes freeze, time is of the essence. The quicker you can shut off the water or direct your plumber to the problem, the better chance you have to prevent pipes from bursting.
 
* Hire a licensed contractor to look for structural damage. If damage is discovered, you can have it repaired immediately rather than waiting for a more severe problem to occur.
 
TIPS FOR YOUR CAR:
 
* Keep the house warm. Set the thermostat for at least 65 degrees, since the temperature inside the walls, where the pipes are located, is substantially colder — a lower temperature will not keep the pipes from freezing.

 * If your engine is experiencing hard starts, stalling, or other problems, fix it now, not later.

* Install new windshield wiper blades. Blades should make full contact with the window. Keep extra washer fluid and an ice scraper in your car.

* Keep a cold weather safety kit in your car that that includes gloves, boots, blankets, flares, water and a flashlight.

* Examine your tires for tread life and uneven wearing. Be sure tires are properly inflated. Tires lose a pound of pressure for every 10 degrees the temperature drops.

* Make sure the heater and defroster are properly working to ensure driver visibility.

* Flush the cooling system every two years with a 50/50 mixture of antifreeze and water. Check the level, condition, and concentration of the antifreeze mixture periodically.

 * Check your battery fluid levels, battery posts, and cable connectors. Bad connections can prevent your car from starting.

* Check your brakes as recommended. If you’re experiencing trouble such as pulsations, noises, or longer stopping distances than seem normal, have a professional look at it immediately.

* Make sure all lights and bulbs are in working order and replace any burned-out bulbs.

* Have a mechanic look over your car whenever you spot something that does not seem normal.   An inspection now may prevent you from being stranded on a cold winter day.

 

*These tips were sent to 10 On Your Side by Allstate Insurance based out of Illinois.

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2 Responses to “Winterizing your home and vehicles”

  1. http://michellerichmond.com/sanserif/2009/03/13/catherine-brady-on-the-mechanics-of-falling/ says:
    March 1, 2010 at 7:40 pm

    I just tried to grab the RSS Feed for this website but it is not displaying in Google Chrome. Any ideas?

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    1. Jeremy Wheeler says:
      March 1, 2010 at 9:41 pm

      I’m using chrome right now. Try to refresh. That’s all I can think of for now. Sorry.

      Reply

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