6 Steps to Prepare Your Home for Winter Weather
Harsh winter weather and snow storms are incredibly hard to prepare for in the moment, which is why many scramble when winter temperatures and precipitation come about for our area. To avoid the panicked shopping spree, we recommend stocking up on items prior to winter weather making its debut.
To ensure you are as prepared as possible, check out our ultimate winter weather checklist for items and preparations you may not have thought of yet.
1. Use Faucet Covers
One of the easiest ways to prevent your pipes from freezing is to cover your outdoor spigots with a faucet cover. These insulated covers work by trapping heat around the spigot, which in turn prevents water in the spigot from freezing. These can be instrumental in protecting your plumbing when the temperatures drop below freezing.
2. Weather Stripping
Installing weather stripping is not only a great way to prepare your home for colder weather, but it can also save you money on your electric bill as less heat will escape. You can use Nail-On Door Weather Stripping to ensure your doors are sealed as tight as possible. Another great option is felt weather stripping tape, which will allow you to seal the sharp angles in your doors, windows, and more. Both are great options to keep the heat inside your home this winter.
3. Purchase Snow and Ice Removal Must Haves
Stocking up on snow removal items now is a great way to ensure you have what you need when harsh winter weather arrives. One of the first things to invest in is a snow shovel. This will help you remove any snow around your driveway, sidewalks, and yard for a relatively small price.
In addition to having snow removal items, you should also stock up on ice removal remedies as well. We highly recommend having ice melt on hand, as it will help melt ice on walkways. If you own a commercial property or have a lot of walkway to salt, consider adding a hand spreader to your must have list. This will speed up your salting process, allowing you to salt more areas with ease.
4. Caulk and Seal Exterior
Caulking the exterior of your home is another great way to seal your heat inside your home. You can use caulk around the exterior of your doors and windows to help trap heat inside. Caulk is 100% waterproof as well, so this won’t be something you have to do every year.
5. Prune Low Hanging Branches
Before harsh winter weather makes its appearance, you’ll want to take the time to prune any tree branches that are dead or low hanging, especially if they hang over your home or your cars. Tree branches are prone to breaking when the weight of snow and/or ice build up on top of it. This can lead to damage to your home or property, so be sure to take time to look around your home for potential damaging branches.
6. Stock Up on Essentials
As many people frantically clear the shelves before any kind of extreme weather, it’s better to slowly stock up on essentials before a storm is on the horizon to ensure your family is prepared. Things such as:
Batteries Bottled water
Shelf stable food
Plenty of blankets
At Taylor’s Do it Center, we’re proud to serve our local communities for all their weather necessities. Visit us in-store today to get started on your winter weather preparations.