Home & Garden
Winter Safety 101: How To Keep Your Home Safe
Taking a few simple steps now can prevent chimney fires, carbon monoxide poisoning and other potential hazards.
The winter months aren't typically characterized by warm days and sunny skies, but there are definitely other perks to the season. For one, we get to spend more time indoors with family and friends. And who doesn't love sitting by a warm fireplace on a cold winter's night?
There are, however, some hazards that homeowners should be aware of this time of year. To ensure your house is safe this winter, we've pulled together a checklist of important inspections and services that will reduce risks and make for a more peaceful season.
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Inspect the HVAC System
No matter what type of heating system you have, you should make sure it's operating safely and efficiently before you put it to use. At the beginning of the season, you should replace your filters. And it's always good to have a professional inspect your system annually to check for dangerous cracks or leaks.
You should also check that nothing is blocking your vents and exhaust is able to escape safely away from your home and property.
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Clean the Chimney
In order to maintain a safe chimney, your chimney flue should be cleaned and inspected annually by a licensed professional. That person will clean the flue and will identify and repair any cracks. Failure to service your chimney could result in a deadly chimney fire or carbon monoxide poisoning.
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Install Smoke Alarms and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
The American Red Cross suggests installing a smoke alarm and a carbon monoxide detector on every level of your home and outside of each sleeping area. Follow the manufacturer's instructions to test these alarms monthly and replace all detector batteries once a year.
If you have a smart home security system, you can easily integrate your monitored smoke and carbon monoxide detectors into that system and give your home an extra safety boost.
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Install a Home Security System
If you're looking for extra peace of mind, there are many types of home alarms and security systems to consider.
A monitored system is one that's monitored 24 hours a day by a professional security company, and it typically has a monthly maintenance fee of between $10 and $65. An unmonitored system is usually a DIY installation that alerts you through a smartphone app. Because there's no professional monitoring in place, there's no monthly fee.
Any home alarm system is better than no system, but most home insurance providers offer significant discounts to homeowners with monitored systems.
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Take Steps to Prevent Dryer Fires
According to the U.S. Fire Administration, most dryer fires occur in the fall and winter months. Lint accumulation is often the cause, so you can reduce risk if you make a habit of emptying the lint trap before and after each load.
You should also do a regular check of the dryer vent to make sure it is clog-free. Calling a professional to check and clear your dryer vent can be extremely effective and help prevent future clogs. Instead of just calling in a handyman, though, you should hire a dryer exhaust technician, preferably one who is certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America.
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Take Steps to Prevent Frozen Pipes
If your pipes freeze and burst, there's a good chance you'll be looking at thousands of dollars in home repairs. There are a few simple and affordable steps to take to prevent such damage.
- Insulate your outdoor faucets. Buy an outdoor faucet cover and place it over your exterior faucets.
- Insulate interior pipes. Use an X-ACTO or similar utility knife to cut the insulation to match the length of each pipe so it wraps around just right.
- Let your faucets drip. In extreme weather, you can leave your faucets dripping to keep water flowing and prevent pipes from freezing.
If you encounter a frozen pipe, turn off the water and call a plumber immediately. Keep people and pets away from water that makes its way indoors, as it can be extremely cold and potentially cause hypothermia.
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Protect Your Roof From Ice Dams
Ice dams typically develop at the edge of your roof. When these dams melt, they can lead to costly leaks.
Issues such as these arise due to heat escaping through the attic, uneven roof temperatures, and roofing underlayment that isn’t waterproof. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to prevent ice dams from wreaking havoc on your home.
Insulate your attic: Most homes have some form of attic insulation. But, if it’s not enough to insulate properly, or it has settled, compressed, dampened or otherwise become less effective, there's a good chance your attic will leak heat. And this could lead to an ice dam. With proper and effective insulation, you can keep your attic temperature closer to the outside temperature and prevent this problem.
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Properly vent your attic: Proper attic ventilation can smooth out temperature variations and reduce the risk of ice dams forming. In order to effectively prevent ice damming, your attic should have both intake and exhaust vents that are free from obstructions so air can circulate properly.
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Install waterproof shingle underlayment: If your roof's underlayment isn't completely waterproof, you're likely to have a problem if an ice dam melts or severe weather hits. That's why many homeowners opt to install waterproof shingle underlayment before shingles are installed. Unlike standard roofing felt or tar paper, it is waterproof even when nails are hammered through it, and it effectively prevents water from leaking into your home.
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More Home and Garden:
How To Prepare Your Home For A Winter Storm
The Winter Yard Work Checklist
How To Reduce Your Heating Bills (And Still Stay Warm)
Home 101: How To Never Lose Power Again
Sources:
5 Home Security Essentials
How Much Does It Cost To Hire An Alarm Monitoring Service?
How To Prevent Frozen Pipes
Don't Let Ice Dams Damage Your Roof
