Winter Preparation Safety Tips
As the temperature drops and Winter approaches, it's important to begin preparing your home for cold weather. Freezing cold temperatures, ice and snow can create big safety concerns, especially if you are ill-prepared. Follow these tips to get ahead of winter weather:
Clean out gutters and repair roof leaks to help prevent water damage. As heavy rains and melting snow pour into the gutters, the overflow can run down your home and cause deterioration.
Have your fireplace and chimney professionally cleaned before building a fire. This will identify any maintenance issues and ensure that it's safe to use the fireplace.
Paint, caulk and seal wood trim to help prevent rot and protect against the elements.
Drain outside faucets to prevent pipes from freezing. If they freeze and crack, a small leak or major flooding may occur.
Have cat litter or salt on hand to sprinkle on icy spots. Salt will melt the snow and cat litter can help you to have more traction.
As always, if a medical emergency or major injury occurs, call 911 immediately.
