Prepping for a snowstorm can make all the difference when the snowflakes start to fall. Don’t panic! You’ll survive the big storm just fine. Look no further than this quick winter-proofing checklist.
Prepping for a snowstorm
Whether you’ve got a few weeks before winter hits or the weatherman just said a major blizzard is already on its way, you’ll want to hit a few spots outside and inside the house to be truly prepped for the storm. This will protect not only your home itself from costly damages but make life easier on you too!
Turn off outside faucets
Pipes leading to outdoor faucets and hoses are particularly vulnerable to damage when the temperature plummets, so it’s crucial that you make turning them all off part of prepping for a snowstorm, even if you have little time to spare. So be sure to shut off the inside valves leading out to them, unhook hoses, and run your outdoor faucets to drain any water that might be hiding within.
For added measure, “cover your spigot and pipes with a towel; this will help insulate them,” says Adam Webster, CEO of Rocky Mountain Restoration, which repairs storm damage to homes in the Phoenix, AZ, area.
Warm up your indoor pipes, too
To prevent burst pipes indoors, keep cabinet doors under sinks open so warm air in your home can reach them more easily. You can also insulate them with heat tape, according to J.B. Sassano, president of Mr. Handyman.
Clear your gutters
“Make sure your rain gutters are clear of leaves,” says Sassano. “Ice dams can form during winter storms, and if the gutters aren’t clean, they can flood the home at the worst time.”
Keep vents clear of snow
Indoor heating systems can shut down when the outside vents get blocked with snow. In fact, homeowner Todd Van Hoosear recalls, “We avoided a very close call when our gas furnace vent got blocked because of a neighbor’s snowblower. Thankfully we had a newer furnace, which detected the gas backup and shut the flame off. We only noticed it because the blower was still working, but we were getting cold air. We could have died! Keeping those vents cleared is critical.”
Stock up on salt or sand
“Put down salt and/or sand on outside walkways a couple hours before the expected snowstorm,” says Webster. Make sure to buy a coarse sand; play sand won’t get the job done. This will help cut down on your shoveling so all you have to really do is kick back with your hot cocoa (oh yeah, don’t forget to stock up on that, too).
