Ways to Protect Your Home and Family From More Expected Snow This Weekend
With more snow and another dip in temperatures expected this weekend, residents should take steps now to ensure their home is well insulated and families are protected. The nonprofit Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) offers five ways to ensure residents stay safe.
1. Prevent frozen pipes with foam, dome or drip. For as little as $1 per 6′ of insulation, you can stop pipes from freezing and save energy, money and frustration. When water freezes in a pipe, it expands and can exert pressure of up to 2,000 pounds per square inch – enough to rupture almost any pipe filled with water. When a pipe bursts, it can spill several hundred gallons of water per hour, resulting in the second most common cause of home insurance claims in America.
2. Check for air leaks around doors and windows using a lit incense stick. If the smoke is sucked out of an opening, seal the leak with caulk, spray foam or weather stripping. Don’t forget about holes in the attic, basement and crawlspaces. The easiest place to insulate that will generate the biggest results is your attic. The US Environmental Protection Agency suggests at least 12 to 15 inches of insulation on the floor of your attic.
3. Check your portable heaters and fireplaces. Half of all fire-related deaths are caused by items placed too closely to heat sources. Make sure that your heater is tested and labeled by a nationally recognized testing company, such as Underwriter’s Laboratories. Keep portable heaters at least three feet away from drapes, furniture or other flammable materials. Place the heater on a level surface away from areas it can be bumped or knocked over. Clear the area around the hearth of debris and flammable materials. Provide proper venting systems for all heating equipment. Make sure all vent pipes extend at least three feet above the roof. If you’re going to get a heater then make sure it is energy efficient to ensure you’re not wasting loads of energy and increasing your bills. Home Muse goes over the different types of electric heaters in this article so it would be worth looking at so you get the best heater to keep you warm.
4. Make your car winter safe. Create a car emergency kit with flashlights, a distress flag, blankets, extra food and water. Keep it there throughout the season.
5. Prevent ice dams. Ice dams are formed when air in the attic is warm enough to cause snow and ice on the roof to thaw and refreeze repeatedly. Pools of water then become trapped under layers of ice that seep under your roof covering (tiles or shingles) into the attic. Keep the warm air downstairs where it belongs with sufficient insulation on the floor of the attic eventually requiring the need for repair by a roof repair Round Rock company, for example. Consider using a dehumidifier to control water vapour. Seal all openings that would allow vapour to rise into the attic; including holes created from installing light fixtures, ceiling fans or disco balls. Provide attic ventilation to replace warm air in the attic with cold outside air. Consult a professional, like an austin roofing company, for the best way to avoid ice dams and water damage in your home. Keep gutters and downspouts clear to allow melted snow and ice to flow away from your home. Some of you may have even added an extra protective layer of foam to your roof to keep it well insulated during the cold weather months. But as you are deciding to get the rest of your roof inspected and repaired, you may also need to look for a foam roof repair company in your area to get it all done at the same time as once the bad weather hits, you’re going to need as much protection as possible.
For more information, tips and resources for winter safety visit www.protect-your-home.org or www.greatwinterweatherparty.org.
About FLASH
Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH)®, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, is the country’s leading consumer advocate for strengthening homes and safeguarding families from natural and manmade disasters. FLASH collaborates with more than 100 innovative and diverse partners that share its vision of making America a more disaster?resistant nation including: BASF, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Florida Division of Emergency Management, The Home Depot®, International Code Council, Kohler® Generators, National Weather Service, Portland Cement Association, RenaissanceRe, Simpson Strong-Tie®, State Farm™, USAA® and WeatherPredict Consulting Inc. In 2008, FLASH opened the interactive weather experience StormStruck: A Tale of Two Homes® in Lake Buena Vista, FL. Learn more about FLASH and gain access to its free consumer resources by visiting www.flash.org or calling (877) 221- SAFE (7233). Also, get timely safety tips to ensure that you and your family are protected from natural and manmade disasters by subscribing to the FLASH blog – Protect Your Home in a FLASH.
