Winter Storms: How To Prepare and Stay Safe

After a long season of fun in the sun, it’s time to start making preparations for the colder weather coming up. Winter’s fury can catch you off guard, leaving many unprepared for the snow and cold. It’s important to properly prepare for upcoming storms so you can stay safe, warm, and comfortable. Below are some tips to help ensure your emergency preparedness.

Weatherproof your home

Before a winter storm hits, you can take steps to make sure your home will be nice and toasty: insulate. Insulate your attic and walls with blown-in cellulose insulation. The insulation will help reduce ice dams and thawing damage to rafters, soffits, siding, and other wood surfaces. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that insulating your home can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars on your annual heating and cooling bills.

Cover your pipes, outdoor water faucets, and sprinkler heads to avoid the damage caused by freezing temperatures. Running water can freeze and expand, splitting pipe connections and ruining sprinkler heads, hose bibs, and faucets. It’s also a good idea to cover all vents used for ventilation to make sure they don’t freeze.

Bring your pets inside

When a winter storm is approaching, you’ll want to make sure your pets are safe indoors. During storms of all kinds, wind can cause water to pool under decks, steps, and patios due to snowmelt and shingle draining. If a pet is exposed to this water for a prolonged period of time, it can develop frostbite on its paws or nose.

Listen to weather forecasts

Whenever a serious winter storm is approaching, you must stay informed and take necessary precautions. Weather forecasts give you a good idea of what to expect and can help you plan your next steps. You will know how much time you have to prepare, and if best to travel or wait out the storm.

Prepare a power outage emergency kit

Winter storms can disrupt the flow of electricity, so it’s important to be prepared for an extended power outage. Survival kits can range from very basic kits that contain only a few items to fully-stocked survival kits complete with everything needed for self-sufficiency during an emergency.

Have your heating system checked

Get your heating checked in the fall to avoid surprises in the winter. Fall is a good time to have your heating system serviced when indoor temperatures are comfortable. A thorough service will look at air filters, ducts, heaters, dampers, humidifiers, convectors, and flues. It all adds up to better comfort for you and your family during the winter.

Take advantage of 24-hour furnace repair service

When you need a furnace repair, you need someone you can rely on at any time. Take advantage of the 24-hour emergency service offered by your trusted local HVAC company. Waiting too long to get your furnace repaired can be an expensive choice as it could lead to more costly repairs or replacements later in the season. Waste no time and book a service today!

Kenneth

Kenneth is a proud native of sydney, born and raised there. However, he pursued his education abroad and studied in Australia. Kenneth has worked as a journalist for almost a decade, making valuable contributions to prominent publications such as Yahoo News and The Verge. Currently, he serves as a journalist for The Hear Up, where he focuses on covering climate and science news. You can reach Kenneth at [email protected].