The bitter cold can have some effects on your home. Doing a few tasks around your home when the cold blast hits can help you avoid unwanted issues.
Avoid freezing pipes by letting your faucets drip or run just a trickle of water.
Open up cabinet doors to expose pipes of kitchen and bathroom sinks to let warm air get in by them to help prevent freezing. (Just be sure to remove any hazardous materials from under the sinks so children and pets aren’t harmed.)
Wrap pipes with insulation.
Disconnect any outside garden hoses and shut off water to outside faucets.
Make sure snow is kept away from exhaust pipes on the outside of your home.
Check that fireplaces, wood burning stoves and furnaces are running properly.
Keep heating sources clear of anything that could potentially cause a fire.
Don’t let space heaters run unattended.
Seal up any cracks or holes to prevent heat loss.
Other winter safety tips:
Make sure you have not only working smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors, but have on hand a fire extinguisher. A fire extinguisher made specifically for the kitchen is also good to have on hand.
Keep lit candles away from anything flammable, pets and children. Make sure they are on a sturdy surface.
If you need to let Fido out during a snowstorm, make sure that you keep your pup on a tie out or leash while they are out to help ensure that they get back to the door safely. If visibility is limited because of blowing snow, it could make it hard for the dog to find its way back okay.
If you need to drive in a snowstorm, make sure that you have winter boots, hat, gloves and even a blanket in the vehicle with you. Have a shovel, bottled water, a snack and cellphone and charger as well.
Clear snow from your driveway and any sidewalks/walkways after the snowstorm and before the frigid temperatures hit. It will be difficult to impossible to get the snow and ice removed after the temperatures fall below 0 degrees.
