Is Your Home Ready for The Colder Weather? A back-to-school list for your house!

Leaves are changing colors, kids are back to school and the temps are dropping. The mountains have already seen their first snowfall of the year and that means it’s time to start winterizing your home! Many homeowners are unaware that there are are some basic items they can do to help keep their homes safe from harms way.

As homeowners, we often assume that our homes react the same to mother nature regardless of the time of the season. Unfortunately that is untrue and can cause major damage to the home unexpectedly. Prevent water damage caused by snow and ice from flooding your home this winter so you don’t have to call a Utah Restoration Company this Season.  Some common household items that can be done for little to no cost to prepare your home for winter are:

1. Clean out the rain gutters. Clogged gutters can be weighed down with debris and break due to excess weight. Wet debris compounded with heavy ice and snow can wreak havoc. Clogged downspouts can lead to premature ice dams as well as flooding.

2. Heat tape is a small investment with a big return. Ice dams are one of the most common sources of premature water during the winter time. A local roofer can install heat tape if you don’t feel comfortable doing it yourself.

3. Disconnect all hoses from the house. A connected hose can cause major damage. The residual water left in the hose can freeze and cause the pipe in your house to freeze and break.

4. If you have an evaporative cooler it is extremely important that you winterize the unit. Drain all fluids and make sure all water is disconnected. If you aren’t comfortable doing this as a homeowner a licensed plumber or HVAC technician will be able to help out. Visit our website for a referral to a qualified technician at www.qdcutah.com .

5. Before turning the furnace on, make sure you replace the air filter and have a general inspection performed by a licensed HVAC company. Often times small rodents such as mice, birds, raccoons, etc. can get into the furnace system. These are all potential fire hazards.

6. If you have a sprinkler system, make sure you winterize all aspects of that system. If you don’t know how to winterize the system make sure you at least turn the water off at a bare minimum.

7. Check all C02 detectors in the house to make sure they are working properly. If you don’t have a CO2 detector BUY ONE!!! They save lives. Wintertime is the most common time of the year when people die due to poisoning.

8. Space Heaters can become a hazard if not monitored. Make sure to turn off heaters if unattended.

9. When turning on small appliances avoid plugging too many units into one outlet fixture. Overloading an electrical socket can lead to fire damage.

10. Last but not least have a great Holiday Season!

Don’t get caught unprepared.  Flood restoration and water damage repair companies often receive calls for emergencies that resulted from something that could have been prevented.  However, even if you take all precautions, flood, water and fire emergencies do happen.  If you have water loss due to a broken pipe or water heater and also need a qualified licensed Salt Lake plumber, Quality Disaster Cleanup can bring one of our trusted plumbers with us to your home.  Visit our emergency plumbing page to call a plumber immediately https://qdcutah.wpengine.com/emergency-plumbing/ or call us for a referral at 801-436-5225.