Winter Weather Preparation

12/5/2014 (Permalink)

Storm damage which in which SERVPRO was called to do the tarping and board up service.

Winter is a volatile season for weather. Depending on where you reside the type and degree of preparation you need to address winter weather may vary. In the south east or southern California, you will not likely have to prepare for severe blizzards, but cold, often freezing weather may still occur. For most of the U.S, preparing for winter weather involves preparing for ice and snow. The blizzard that struck the northeast U.S yesterday and the severe storms that hit before the holidays are examples of how important preparing for winter storms is. From transit shutdowns and road closures to widespread power outages or just arctic temperatures, winter is a trying time and requires ongoing preparatory measures. Here is a brief look at a couple of steps you can take to better prepare yourself for the bitter cold weather.

Maintain a Consistent Temperature Inside

Keeping your home a consistent temperature during the worst of the cold weather will help prevent pipes from freezing and ensure that your appliances continue to function well. Furnaces, water heaters, and plumbing lines all need to be used regularly during the winter to maintain functionality. If you are away for long periods during the winter, make sure to set your thermostat to a consistent, warm temperature. Even though you are not around, it is important to keep your home heated. Set the temperatures moderately–not too high to run up energy costs, but not so cold that your home is adversely affected. If you are away, consider keeping cabinet doors where pipes are housed open to allow warm air circulation to keep them from freezing. Also, consider allowing a small trickle of water to run out of the faucets and down the pipes.

Keep Emergency Supplies

An essential part of adverse weather preparation is to maintain a supply of emergency materials. In the cold of winter, this includes things like alternative heat sources such as generators, lanterns, and portable heaters, or fireplaces. Having a wood burning fireplace can be a great benefit in the winter–particularly if you lose power–but there are other solutions if you don’t. Always ensure that you have plenty of warm bedding and clothing on hand. Keeping a power generator can be a good idea if you have an emergency need for power. These can be useful if power is down for a number of days as well. Beyond heat sources, make sure you have a supply of food for at least one week and plenty of water. Other items such as: flashlights, batteries, first aid kits, shovels, ice melt, and battery or solar powered radios are all good items to have available for a storm.

Beyond keeping a supply of essential items to combat winter weather, monitoring the forecasts and taking caution when leaving the house are all good practices. During a severe storm and arctic temperatures, staying indoors is especially important. The recent scourge of record cold across the U.S is an example of the importance of staying prepared.

SERVPRO of Carbondale/Clarks Summit/Old Forge is Northeastern Pennsylvania leading specialty cleaning company and we are happy to supply you with these simple tips. Should you experience a weather disaster give SERVPRO of Carbondale/Clarks Summit/Old Forge a call. Proudly serving all of Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wayne, Wyoming and Susquehanna counties