Save Money with these Home Prevention Tips
The entire US is seeing winter weather like we have never seen before with this polar vortex. Woodbridge, VA is no different. It is frigid in most of the US! This artic cold, winter weather can be harsh and cause havoc on your home!
This morning while walking my dog, I kept hearing loud noises but no one was outside. I finally realized it was the melting ice and snow that was falling off my neighbor’s houses. It is a good thing that it is melting, but can be disastrous if it re-freezes. If the snow and ice refreeze above the eaves of your roof, ice dams can form and cause interior leads and water damage. (A lot of us experienced that with the big snow/ice storm back in 2010.)
With the arctic cold that we have been experiencing in Woodbridge, VA, we are also seeing frozen and burst water pipes. This can cause damage that could be costly.
Here are a few hints, with little preparation time, that can help avoid some of the winter weather damage.
Prevent Ice dams through proper ventilation and insulation
• Clear gutters of leaves and debris
• Check and seal places where warm air could leak from your house to the attic including vent pipes, exhaust fans, and chimney, etc.
• Inspect your roof and attic for proper ventilation and insulation
• Look for rust spots, rusty nails, or a mildew smell—these are signals that moisture has formed on the inside of your roof
• If you have soffit vents in your eaves, make sure they are not blocked and that the insulation surrounding them is secured so that air can flow easily
• Keep snow from accumulating on the lower three to six feet of your roof
Prevent Frozen Pipes
• Keep heat at 55 degrees Fahrenheit or higher even when you are out of town.
• Insulate pipes, especially those close to outside walls, attics, or crawl spaces where the chance of freezing is greatest.
• Seal air leaks surrounding or near pipes.
To learn more about home prevention tips contract Rhett Pfitzner at Liberty Mutual Insurance. Rhett can also be reached at Rhett.Pfitzner@ libertymutual.com OR 703-595-8820. Rhett can also handle all of your Woodbridge insurance needs.
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