Don’t let winter weather wreak havoc at home

Like it or not, winter is here!  Now that you’re settled into your Belclaire dream home, you’ll want to protect it. While winter weather can be fun - we all enjoy the snow and cozying up by the fire with hot cocoa or a glass of wine - it can wreak havoc on your home. Freezing temps can lead to frozen pipes and unexpected costs. We all were reminded of that during last year’s unprecedented winter storm. Here are a few tips to beat the winter woes:

Protect your Pipes. Let your faucets drip and leave cabinet doors open during hard freezes. 

Have your heating system serviced. Furnaces, boilers and chimneys should be serviced at least once a year to prevent fire and smoke damage.

Know where your pipes are located and learn how to shut the water off. If your pipes freeze, speed is critical. The quicker you shut off water or direct your plumber to the problem, the better your chance of preventing major damage.

You not only need to protect the inside of your home but the outside, too! Don’t forget to: 

Clean the gutters. Remove leaves, sticks and other debris from gutters, so melting snow and ice can flow freely. 

Install gutter guards. Gutter guards prevent debris from entering the gutter and interfering with the flow of water away from the house and into the ground.

Trim trees and remove dead branches. Ice, snow and wind could cause weak trees or branches to break free and damage your home or car or injure someone walking by your property.

You’re finally settled into your dream home and we all know how important it is to protect it! Keeping these winter weather protection tips in mind means you can cozy up inside and enjoy your new home. Stay warm, everyone!