Winter Weather Tips

12/1/2021 (Permalink)

Winter Weather Tips:

Disaster Recovery Team would like to offer the following tips to help homeowners and business owners avoid damages during this frigid winter weather.

• Keep indoor temperatures above 65 degrees Fahrenheit, when possible. This will help keep pipes inside walls from freezing.
• If you are a homeowner, remind those in your household where to find the main water shutoff valve in case of emergency.
• If you are a renter or a business owner, be sure you have the contact information for your maintenance crew on hand in case of a burst pipe.
• Turn on hot and cold taps just enough to keep them dripping slowly.
• Keep cabinet doors underneath sinks open during extremely cold spells. This allows the warm air from a room to circulate around the pipes.
• Disconnect all garden hoses from outside faucets and spigots. Shut off valves to these spigots from the crawlspace, if possible.
• Close the flue in your fireplace when it is not in use, and, of course, always double-check to ensure your flue is open before starting a fire in the fireplace.
• If you plan to leave your home unattended for several days, have a friend or neighbor stop in to check on your residence. Undiscovered burst pipes can lead to catastrophic flood and mold damage inside your home.
• Beware of ice dams in gutters near downspouts.