Winter is the season where everyone wears thick coats, clears the walkway of snow, and warms up their houses to make sure that they’re comfortable at home. But not only are you trying to adapt to the seasonal change, our houses need to adapt to this cold weather too. Not too many people realize the effect the snow can have upon their houses. That is why here is a checklist to make sure that your house is in tip-top shape come snow fall.
Outside your home
First off, let’s start from outside your house. If you have any furniture laying outside your house it would be advisable to store them inside your garage, basement, or storage shed. Unless the furniture is extremely durable to withstand the intense weather patterns, store your furniture in a safe place. Also, if there are any chimes outdoor knick-knacks that can easily be blown by the wind; place them inside your house or in a box to keep them from damaging your house. If there are any plants that can be hazardous to your house, if they were to fall you would want to have these trees or large plants removed.
Your house’s roof is the most exposed part of the entire house. That is why you should be definite that the roof is firm and safe once the storm arrives. Having a peaked roof will make the snow slide off the top of your house. If your roof is flat it will gather the snow and will eventually seep through it. You should keep your roof clear of any objects like leaves or branches. If this isn’t done it will cause the snow to build up instead of sliding off. If there are trees or branches at the same level as your roof, they should be trimmed. The rain gutters on your roof should be removed because this is another object that accumulates the snow. Even if there is no snow storm, your roof should still be raked of snow while the winter season is occurring. In addition, you can install a snow guard on your roof. This will melt the snow accumulated on your roof, which will prevent any sort of snow build up.
Inside your home
Now moving into the house, if ever there would be a power failure during the winter storm, you should have flashlights, extra batteries, candles, or lanterns lying around (if you have a lantern, keep it in a safe spot that is not too high above the floor or too close to anything flammable) . And if the power does go out make sure you turn off all appliances or any electrical circuits to avoid any fires or short circuit explosions from happening. Of course having a backup generator for your house can also be a way to have some light during the storm. Take note that this can only be done before winter. Once your lights go out, the backup generator will provide you with light. If you have a fireplace, starting a fire would be a great way to have some light inside your house. Not only will it be bright inside, but it will also keep you warm from the chilling winds.
What to prepare
Aside from setting some lights aside, water is an essential item when a storm hits your home. Bottles of drinking water, tubs of water to clean the toilets and for general cleaning will come in handy. Just in case you lose water due to power failure you will have a back up water supply.
During the storm, to keep yourself warm you can purchase a space heater to keep the temperature at a hospitable rate. Keep yourself hydrated and warm while the storm is occurring, some storms can last for about a day to 5 days. Food that doesn’t need to be prepared using electricity will be a big help. You can actually use the snow to store your food. This will keep it fresh, plus you won’t have to worry about using up electricity. You can also buy ready to eat meals that aren’t the military type meals. The type of foods that you want to get is the ones that the lid can be taken off and can be eaten right from the jar. Ravioli and stews are some examples. A stove that is gas operated is a good example of an appliance you can use while you are stuck in the house.
To keep yourself updated on the news regarding the storm, set aside a battery-powered radio. When the storm passes through your house, you’ll be able to find out whether or not it is safe to come out of your home. Shovels or snow plows should be ready after the storm passes so you can clear your garden and/or the surroundings of your house from snow. If you do not have any shovels or a snow plow, you can call for assistance with a snow-plowing service. However, this should be done as soon as possible for other households might want to have their area clear from snow too.
After the storm passes, if you see any power lines have fallen, KEEP AWAY FROM THEM. Just because the line has fallen does not mean that there is no electricity flowing through it. Worst case scenario, you are in your car while the power line has fallen. If there are wires touching your car it is important not to get out of your car. Call for assistance or wait until somebody sees you. Do not touch the ground while you are touching the car. This can cause you to be electrocuted or worse suffer from serious burns.
If there are any windows or shingles damaged due to the storm repair them immediately. It will come in handy if you keep some extra materials in your house after the storm. Then, you would not have to go to the market to buy items, which other household residents would most likely do after a storm hits. The chimneys, attic vents, and plumbing should be all cleared of any storm water or any object that can clog the openings.
If there are any cracks or holes on your roof, patch them up. You wouldn’t want any melted snow to drip into your house. While you’re checking for areas that have been soaked, inspect the doors and windows as these are usually the first places that get soft. A telltale sign whether there is a leak happening in your house is that the area has lost its color, there are water stains and/or it has been damaged.
If ever the ice or the snow melts there is chance that the water can seep into the ground. Storm water is what this is called. Storm water is harmful because as the water runs across the ground it collects all sorts of bacteria, chemicals, and other pollutants. These can easily affect lakes and oceans as it easily streams into different bodies of water. Here are some precautionary measures that can help lessen storm water.
You should find alternatives to imperious surfaces. Asphalt, concrete, and rooftops are some examples that will prevent the water to seep into the ground. Some affordable alternatives can be cinder blocks, mulch, bricks, and porous asphalt. Also, adding some small trees and shrubs around your house will allow the water to be absorbed by the plants instead of reaching the ground. Purchasing a rain barrel can be a great way to collect rain water. You will not only be preventing storm water but you will also have reusable water for your plants. If there’s no rain barrel, digging a depression in your garden will have the same effect as a rain barrel, except that this will filter down to the soil. Septic systems should be maintained at least every 3 years. If the septic tanks are backed up they can pollute local water sources which can cause serious illnesses.
If worse comes to worst and the storm is too massive to stay indoors, make sure your car has a full tank of gas. Finding a place far from the storm is a good precautionary measure. You always have to assume the worst and be prepared for what is to come. Just bring things that are absolutely necessary for survival. That is food, water, clothes, and medicine. You can never be too sure of how long a storm will last so bring about a week’s worth of supplies. If you cannot find a safe place to stay, call your local communities and they will be there to help you out.
These are just some steps to be sure that you will be safe once the winter storm comes. It is all fun and games while the snow doesn’t hurt you, but too much snow can cause serious damages. Your safety and well-being is the most important thing you have, make sure that when an emergency comes you are ready for anything.
