Prepare your home for winter

This weekend we will see some pretty low overnight temperatures. While we have had a pretty mild fall, it looks like the winter will be coming in fast and strong. Now is the time to prepare your home for the really cold winter days. As a homeowner or renter, one of the main things you worry about in the winter is freezing water lines. Frozen lines have the potential to burst and split. The real damage to your home comes when the frozen pipes thaw and water leaks from the cracks and breaks. Often times we are unaware of the issue until it has caused significant damage to the home. 

Here are some pictures of what can happen.

Ways you can prevent this from happening:

1. Know where your shut off valves are located. 
   
2. If you have a crawl space, make sure all vents and openings are closed during the winter and opened again in the spring. If you have an unheated basement, make sure that all openings are sealed. 
   
3. Insulate all exposed water pipes, pipes in unheated basement areas or inside water lines that are near exterior walls. 
   
4. Shut off and drain all outside spigots. If you do not have a shut off for those, you can purchase insulated covers that will protect them. 
   
5. Make sure your heat is set an an appropriate level (especially if you will be away from your home). In the event that the temperatures and wind chill drops below 20 degrees, make sure all cabinets under sinks are open to circulate the warm air onto the pipes. 
   
6. If you are away from your home for an extended period of time over the winter, make sure to shut off the water coming into the home and drain all the pipes to prevent freezing. For seasonal homes, contact a professional plumber to "winterize" your home. They will shut off your water, drain all the water lines and toilets then place anti-freezing agents into the lines. You can contact them when you are ready to inhabit the dwelling again. At this point, they will turn on your water, fill all lines and inspect for any leaks.

Keep the name of your insurance agent handy in case you have a claim. We are always here to answer questions and give you ideas to help you prevent losses.

I hope you have a warm and dry winter!

Barbie Lambert

Manager