How to Protect Your Home from Winter Storms: Expert Tips

Preparing Your Home for Winter Storms

• ⚠️ Officials urge everyone to prepare their homes for upcoming winter storms and frigid temperatures.
• 💡 A common mistake is lowering the heat during below-freezing temperatures, which can lead to frozen pipes.

Protecting Your Plumbing

• 💧 Shut off water to outdoor appliances and spigots. Disconnect or turn off outdoor plumbing valves and drain them.
• 🔑 Open cabinet doors in kitchens and bathrooms to expose pipes under the sink, allowing room heat to protect them.
• 🏠 Avoid closing off rooms that may have pipes in the walls; keep bedroom doors open for uniform heat distribution.
• 💧 Let faucets drip to keep water moving, as moving water is less likely to freeze.

Generator Safety and Thermostat Settings

• ⚡ Portable generators should never be run in garages or inside the home due to exhaust fumes.
• 🔌 Inspect generator cords for proper rating and ensure there are no frays or cuts in the insulation.
• 🌡️ Set your thermostat to 68 degrees Fahrenheit for efficient and cost-effective heating; higher temperatures will just make the system run longer and cost more.

Documenting Potential Damage

• 📹 Walk around your home, inside and out, and take video of potential damage areas.
• 🧾 This video documentation can be useful for insurance damage claims.