Today seems like a great day to revisit our winter home maintenance tips. For those of you not local, those of us here in Lancaster County received some snow fall last night ranging from about an inch in the Manheim Township and Hempfield areas, to a few inches in outlying Penn Manor and Solanco – although exact amounts seem hard to pin down with the winds. While this is certainly not our first snow of this season, it is by far the coldest!
For those of you here in Lancaster – or anywhere experiencing a the winter chill – below are a few winter home maintenance musts to consider.
Prevent frozen pipes. Cold temperatures mean water can freeze quickly. Frozen water will expand and eventually cause pipes to burst. No body wants to deal with the headache that frozen pipes cause. Be sure to disconnect your outside hoses, and keep your thermostat above 55 degrees even if you’re away.
Keep paths clear of snow and ice.Not only does this keep your family safe when you’re driving and walking outside, but it also protects your walk ways and driveway from damage.
Watch out for trees during winter weather. Snow and ice build up on trees can bring down branches you weren’t even aware were loose. Keep an eye on your trees to make sure nothing is drooping. Be sure to clear the path from any branches that look like they may give way.
Check your storm supplies. Winter storms can mean more power outages. Be prepared with flashlights, batteries, bottled water, and charged up phones.
Check your carbon monoxide and smoke detector batteries. This is always a good thing to do with the change of seasons to make sure batteries are fresh and everything is working properly.
Keep heat running smoothly. If you haven’t already, have your furnace serviced to make sure everything is in good working order. Change filters. If you use oil, be sure you’ve got plenty in your tank. You may want to consider blocking any drafty windows and doors so that cool air is not entering your home and making your heating system work even harder.
Enjoy the rest of winter and stay warm!