Keep your home (and yourself) safe during snow

Hello to Everyone,
 
I hope this blog finds you safe and warm. Although this information is probably a bit late in coming, as we brace for round 2 here are a few things you can do to protect your home during inclement weather.
 
1. If you have a heat pump, dig it out. Electric heat pumps are really not designed to deal with extremely cold temperatures. Having your outdoor heat pump covered in a layer of snow will adversely affect its ability to work properly.
 
2. Remove snow from window ledges where possible. Not only will packed snow on your sills cause colder temperatures, but it can damage the wood trim. If your wood trim allows moisture in then it can seep into your interior walls causing additional damage.
 
3. Try to keep the bottoms of you gutters clear from snow. As the snow melts it will need someplace to drain and a clogged gutter will cause a back up in your drainage system. The same is true for french drain systems outside.
 
4. Try not to pile snow against the sides of your house. When you are shoveling masses of snow it can be hard to find a place to put it, but try to keep it away from the sides of your house. Eventually the snow will melt and will cause water to build up against your foundation. Rule number 1 with home ownership is to keep water away from the house.
 
5. Keep ice melt or sand on your walkway at all times. Even once the snow is removed constant melting and re-freezing can be an issue. Some of the hardest ice to see is thin layers of freshly melted (and re-frozen) snow. Treating your walks and drives daily can help prevent this.
 
6. Remove snow from decks and porches. Snow is very heavy and can cause collapses in roofs and porches. Removing snow from suspended decks and porches can prevent sagging, stress on the supporting beams and possible collapse.
 
7. Keep a good selection of supplies in the house. I know we have heard it before, but be prepared for at least three days without power and water. If you have a fireplace, stock up on wood and refill gas/propane tanks. Keep bottled water in the house. Know where candles, flashlights and batteries are. Have a selection of food that does not require cooking or electricity to make. Have winter blankets, hats and gloves readily accessible.
 
8. Use common sense and be neighborly. Stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary. Help your elderly neighbors with their snow removal and check on them regularly. Keep pets inside out of the cold and remember to stay hydrated when outside.
 
We recently lost our power for 18 hours and the only thing that kept it tolerable was the camaraderie of our neighbors. Those with gas cooking prepared food and we camped out in houses with wood and fireplaces.
 
Best of luck to everyone and let's look forward to a quickly approaching spring!