Although winter weather can be beautiful, it also comes with safety risks. It’s important to be prepared for inclement weather before it occurs so that you can avoid injuries or damages to your home. Follow these five winter safety tips at home to help keep your family and home safe.
Winter Safety Tips for Power Outages
Being prepared for a power outage is one of the most important winter safety tips. Power lines can go down quickly when there’s a lot of snow and ice. If you have the financial means, invest in a generator.
Be sure to have plenty of flashlights, batteries, food, and water on hand. A battery-powered radio is also helpful during a power outage. In the cold winter weather, you can never have enough blankets and warm clothes around to stay cozy.
Prepare Plumbing Pipes
Pipes on exterior walls and pipes located in unheated spaces are at risk of freezing. Your best option to prevent this is to insulate your pipes. Doing this will provide your pipes with long-term protection. On very cold nights, let water drip from your faucets overnight. With the water moving through the pipes, they are less likely to freeze.
Winter Safety Tips for Shoveling
When shoveling driveways or walkways, be sure you are dressed for the weather. A snow blower is a great option, especially for people with health problems. One winter safety tip to keep in mind is if you use a shovel, be sure to lift with your legs and take breaks when needed. Work slowly and carefully to avoid slipping.
Be Careful Heating Your Home
If you have a fireplace, have it inspected and cleaned before you use it. Keep space heaters away from flammable objects like curtains and furniture. Make sure kids and pets are never alone around a heater or fireplace. Finally, make sure your carbon monoxide and smoke detectors are working.
Check Your Gutters
Before the snow starts to fall, it’s important to clean your gutters. Clear out any leaves and debris. Water and ice can quickly build up in gutters and cause significant damage to your home. Look at where your downspout extenders are depositing water. If the water is flowing onto a pathway or driveway, it will freeze and become slippery and dangerous.
AAA Professional Home Inspectors offers home inspections to Kentucky and Southern Indiana. Contact us to request our services.