Winterizing your home is important to protect it from freezing and other winter weather conditions. Last year many people were caught unprepared for the holiday freeze and had severe water damage from burst pipes. To protect your home this winter, follow these tips:

Outside your home

Seal any air leaks you can find. Use caulk or weatherstripping to seal any cracks or gaps around doors, windows, where pipes enter the home, vents, chimneys, in the basement or crawlspace and other openings. This will help to keep cold air out and warm air in. Use caulk for cracks and gaps up to ¼ inch wide and around windows that don’t open. Weatherstripping is good for moving parts such as door and window frames. For larger gaps foam insulation may be an easier option.

Insulate your pipes. Foam pipe sleeves are the easiest and most common way to wrap pipes. A more effective way to insulate pipes is to use fiberglass pipe wrap, but it may be difficult to install. If you are really feeling ambitious, heat tape is an electrical tape that wraps around the pipes and heats them to prevent freezing. It is a good option for insulating exposed pipes such as in crawlspaces and attics. This is the hardest option to use and can have consequences if used incorrectly so be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully.

Cover outdoor faucets. Use a faucet cover or wrap the faucet with insulation and secure it with a bungee cord. If possible, cut off the water going to the faucet and leave it open, so water is not trapped inside with no room to expand when it freezes.

Clean your gutters and downspouts. This will help to prevent water from freezing and backing up into your roof. This is a bigger concern as you move further north, but it is good to keep ice off your roof. It can cause leaks, mold growth and structural problems.

Trim trees and shrubs. Remove any branches that could fall on your home during a winter storm. Even if your tree survives the storm, ice accumulations on branches can cause them to fall later which is a hazard to the home and to anyone walking under the tree before it thaws.

Inside your home

Set your thermostat to at least 55 degrees Fahrenheit. This will help to prevent your pipes from freezing. Keep it at that temperature even if no one is home. A water damage restoration will cost much more than a slightly higher heating bill during a freeze.

Keep your cabinets open. This will help to circulate warm air around your pipes. Be sure nothing inside the cabinet will block the pipe’s access to that warmer air. When you close your cabinets, you trap the cold air around the pipes, which can cause them to freeze. This is especially important in areas of your home that are exposed to the cold, such as under sinks and in the basement. You should also keep your cabinets open if you are going to be away from your home for an extended period during cold weather.

Drip water from faucets. When water is flowing, it is more difficult for it to freeze. Dripping water from a faucet keeps the water in the pipe moving, which helps to prevent it from freezing. Simply turn on the faucet and adjust the flow so that a small stream of water is dripping. It is not necessary to have a lot of water dripping. Just a small trickle is enough to keep the water moving and prevent it from freezing. Drip water from faucets exposed to cold under sinks and in the basement. This is especially important if you are going to be away from your home for more than 24 hours.

Know where your water main shut-off valve is located. This will be helpful in case you need to shut off the water to your home in the event of a leak. It is important to know this at any time, not just during winter storms. Water losses can occur at any time of the year, so this is always an important piece of information. The main shut-off valve for your water is usually located where the water enters your home, in the basement or crawl space, but it can also be located outside near the foundation. If you cannot find the main shut-off valve in the basement or crawl space, check outside near the foundation. The valve may be in a box or behind a cover. If you still cannot find the main shut-off valve, contact your local water utility company to help you locate it.

Have your heating system inspected and serviced before the winter season to ensure that it is in good working order and can keep your home warm. There are two reasons for doing this now. First, during a storm is not the time to discover that you have no heat in your home. Secondly, repairmen that can help fix a failed heating system will be extremely busy during and right after a storm so you will have to wait for help when you need it most. A professional heating technician will perform several tasks during an inspection and service, including cleaning and inspecting components, checking that the thermostat is working properly, checking carbon monoxide levels, testing safety features, lubricating moving parts, and making any needed repairs and adjustments.

Stock up on supplies. Include things like snow shovels, ice melt, and firewood. You will also want a week’s worth of food and water on hand for each person in the home. Make sure the food is ready to eat since you may not be able to cook. Store the water in a warmer part of the home so it does not freeze too. When measuring food and water, do not forget to have enough for any pets living in the home. Have blankets and sleeping bags to help stay warm if needed. Have batteries for flashlights and a radio. Keep a first aid kit handy, along with enough medications that anyone in the home needs to last a week.

Have a plan in place in case of a power outage. This may include having a generator or battery-operated devices. Be sure you know how to safely use winter disaster devices. Space heaters and open flames, such as candles and fires, should never be left unattended. Most generators should not be used in confined spaces. Know how to run the generator and how to feed the power to your home before you must rely on this. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for use to protect your home, your family and yourself. Be sure you have enough fuel on hand to be able to keep machines running.

By following these tips, you can help to protect your home from freezes and other winter weather conditions. Despite our best efforts, sometimes pipes crack, water heaters burst or ice melts and leaks into the home. Once the storm passes, call ServiceMaster of Gwinnett or ServiceMaster 5 Points Athens if you do have damage from water for your water damage mitigation as soon as it is safe to do so.