When the weather outside is frightful, make sure that your rental stays safe and warm.
Use these three cold weather checklists to create a safe and comfortable home, even in the harshest weather.
Outdoors
- Roof Maintenance– Designate a fall day to roof maintenance. Have a certified professional clean the roof and inspect the structure for weaknesses. Address major concerns before inclement weather comes; the weight of snow and ice will exacerbate existing conditions.
- Gutter Maintenance– Remove leaves and debris from gutters, clearing the pathway needed for fallen leaves, rain, and melted snow to be carried away from your home quickly and completely. Clogged gutters will trap moisture and decomposing materials near your home, damaging various parts of the structure overtime.
- Ice Kits– If you live in an area prone to frequent freezing, it may be a good idea to keep an ice removal kit on the property. Include coarse salt or sand, a freshly sharpened shovel, and landscaping spray paint to temporarily mark icy patches on public walkways.
- Adequate Lighting– The cold weather months bring shorter days. Make sure that the exterior lights of your home are operable, promoting safe and easy navigation when you leave home early or arrive late.
- Winterizing Pipes– Shut off valves for pools, sprinkler systems and other outdoor water sources that will not be used.
Indoors
- Simple Weatherproofing– Tour your home with a can of waterproof, insulating foam sealant. Use it to fill in gaps and cracks near windows and doors that are less than 1’’ thick. The sealant will block out cold and moisture while optimizing heating efficiency inside.
- Heating System Maintenance– Before the brunt of winter, be sure to give your central heating a thorough checkup. Fix any minor issues now instead of waiting for bigger issues later; winter is a peak business time for many repair companies and you may have to wait days for a technician to visit your home later if you have a problem.
- Smooth Flowing Pipes– When the temperatures drop below freezing, it may be beneficial to let interior pipes drip slighting to keep them from freezing (particularly in older homes). To avoid wasting water, let the pipes drip into a receptacle; use the clean water for warm beverages, cooking, and household chores throughout the week.
