Snowzilla is Here - Safety First!
On a day like today, it's hard to believe that Punxsutawney Phil has actually predicted an early spring! So many of us are burrowed away waiting for the snow to stop falling so we can dive into the next round of snow-blowing, shoveling and plowing. The local TV stations have been broadcasting several very important reminders to home owners for these snowy and cold times in terms of putting safety first!
1) If you have a direct vented heat source (furnace, stove or fireplace), make sure that the outside vent is not blocked by snow. A blocked vent may cause the heat source to shut down (happens with a power vent - the blower won't kick on so the furnace wont ignite) or worse, for carbon monoxide gas to be forced back into your home. There is a relatively new Maine Law that requires homes being transferred to have carbon monoxide detectors in place within 30 days of the sale, but there is no "policing" of this. If you don't have plug-in carbon monoxide detectors with battery back-up in your home, get them as soon as it's safe to travel again! If you don't think this is critical, I was at a closing a couple weeks ago where one of the attorneys related personal experience of her alarm going off and it saved her life.
2) Anyone who has ever shoveled snow, knows its weight can be back-breaking. The weight of snow and ice on your roof can be considerable, too - - Meteorologists estimate that a one-inch layer of ice weighs approximately 5lbs. per square foot and about 12 inches of snow is equivalent to one inch of ice. Wet and packed snow weighs more. From a series of large snow falls like we've had, you could easily have up to 20 lbs. additional, per square foot, on your roof-top. If ice dams build up, you could also have an incredible load on your roof edge and gutters. Ice dams can also cause significant interior water damage to ceilings, walls and insulation.
It is recommended, as part of your snow clean-up routine, to rake your roof - you can remove some of the additional weight from your roof structure and it may help prevent ice dams, too. Roof rakes can be purchased on-line, at your local hardware store, Lowe's or Home Depot - they have an extendable pole so you can safely rake your roof from ground level. You can rake your whole roof or just 3-4 feet along the lower edge. Please do not climb up onto your roof to shovel - it is slippery up there and you could fall. But you should never stand on a snow-covered roof and a regular shovel can damage the shingles. Another option, of course is to hire a professional (many roofing companies offer this service) to remove snow from your roof. Experts recommend that you never try to remove ice dams yourself.
3) Lastly, make sure your cell phone is fully charged in the event of a power outage.
Just passing this information along to help you safely get through winter in our northern climate!
Stay safe and warm - - soon it will be Spring - - Phil says so!
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