FREEZING TEMPERATURES: Staying Ahead

Depending upon where you live or work, winter weather can be more than an inconvenience. Freezing temperatures, snow and ice buildup, and severe storms or blizzards can wreak havoc upon property — both homes and businesses. Even in areas not traditionally impacted by winter conditions, it’s best to be prepared for the worst by staying ahead of the forecast

Maintain Your HVAC/Furnace Unit Make sure your furnace/heating system is ready for cold weather.

Change filters, clean air ducts, and test the thermostat periodically. A malfunctioning heating unit means lower temperatures inside your home or business, which could lead to frozen pipes.

Prevent Frozen Pipes Burst pipes are the most common cause of property damage during winter. To avoid, wrap pipes with insulation in spots most vulnerable to freezing (exterior walls, attics, unheated basements, etc.)

On extremely cold days, keep the water flowing by allowing a few faucets to drip. You might also consider installing a monitoring system that sends notifications when internal temperatures fall to a certain point or shuts off water automatically when abnormal water pressure is detected.

Avoid Ice Dams When snow packs into gutters and melted runoff has nowhere to go, ice dams can form around the edges of a property’s roof, causing serious damage by tearing off gutters or starting leaks.

If possible, install and turn on heated cables around the edge of the roof before a snowstorm hits. If you have a long enough roof rake, use it to pull the snow to the ground.