SERVPRO Tips-Let's Get The House Ready for Winter

12/2/2019 (Permalink)

On this blog in the past weeks, we’ve been focused on winter tips, as winter is swiftly approaching. We talked about how to avoid frozen pipes and winter fire safety tips, but we’ll end our winter tips with getting the rest of the house ready for winter, while touching upon some of our past tips. Winter weather causes $1 billion in insured losses every year. With these tips, SERVPRO of Norridge/Harwood Heights hopes to help you avoid these losses. 

• Protect indoor pipes- There is an entire blog post about this, but I wanted to touch upon it again, because it’s very important. A burst pipe can cause $5,000 or more in damage. Protect your pipes by insulating them with foam rubber or fiberglass sleeves. Consider focusing on areas like the basement, where 37% of burst pipes occur. 

• Insulate your attic or crawl space- A lot of heat can escape through these locations if there is no insulation. There are many different sources online that can inform exactly which kind of insulation to use and how much is appropriate for the location. 

• Service your chimney or furnace- The biggest cause of house fires are heating equipment, such as space heaters, chimneys and fireplaces. They should be serviced and inspected annually before use to guarantee their safety. 

• Repair loose roofing shingles- Have a contractor do inspections and repairs before the first snow. Without these repairs, the moisture from the snow could leak into the house causing water damage. 

• Inspect and clean gutters- Clogged gutters can cause backups and then freeze once temperatures drop. This can cause issues with water drainage, which can lead to water damage in the home. 

• Secure outdoor water sources- Drain and store hoses before the first frost to prevent the water inside the hose freezing. Also, shut off the water supply to the hose bibs to avoid any water leakage. 

SERVPRO of Norridge/Harwood Heights reminds you to take care of any home issues before winter to be able to enjoy a nice, safe winter.