The colder months are quickly approaching, and as you ponder your wintertime routine, it’s essential to check in on your home. During the cold season, you need to be aware of several things that can prevent big problems from affecting the safety of your home. The severe weather checklist helps homeowners and renters prepare for storms and weather events that could impact their homes.
Meteorologists also advise homeowners to pay more attention to the forecast. While it may seem like a cold winter season, there is a good chance that temperatures will be warmer than usual. The severe weather checklist below is a step-by-step guide for your winter readiness and all it entails.
Set Up Automatic Oil Delivery
Many homeowners are unprepared for winter, but there is a severe weather checklist to ensure you’re ready. One way is to sign up for automatic oil delivery, which helps you save money and solves the problem of forgetting and going without heat.
An oil delivery plan can be necessary for homeowners who use home heating oil to heat their homes. Winter heating costs can be high, and it’s not ideal when you run out of oil in the middle of a big freeze. Automatic deliveries can help prevent this problem.
Many oil companies offer automatic delivery plans and discounts for those who sign up for them. It makes winter easier for you, allowing you to stay warm and keeping your family safe. Plus, if you sign up for automatic delivery, you won’t have to think about it each time your tank gets low because the company will come and refill it without you needing to do anything.
Automatic delivery plans vary from company to company, so read the fine print to determine whether you can skip deliveries in certain conditions. In some cases, there are penalties for skipping deliveries. Before signing up for a plan, it’s a good idea to call the oil company to make sure they will be able to deliver in your area during inclement winter weather. And when you do sign up, make sure you know how often you will receive the delivery.
Have Your Solar Panels Inspected
Having your solar panels inspected is a severe weather checklist before winter. These inspections are typically a quick process, and they will ensure your system is working as it should be and help identify any potential problems down the line.
The winter months pose some additional risks for your solar panels, and it’s a good idea to take a few precautions before the first snow hits. Your solar panel system has two main components: the photovoltaic panels, which convert sunlight into electricity, and the inverter unit, where electricity is converted from direct current to alternating current.
Your panels should be inspected by an accredited solar contractor at least once a year. They will look for any corrosion or wear on the connectors or wiring. They will also check that your inverter and other equipment are still functioning correctly and haven’t lost any power due to shading or damage.
If they find any problems, they will let you know what you can do to fix them yourself. If something is worn out or corroded, it may need to be repaired or replaced immediately. You can use an accredited installer for a whole range of other things. If your solar panels are installed on a roof that you’re having replaced, the installer will remove the panels from the old roof before it’s removed and reinstall them on the new roof.
Get Your Furnace Inspected
If you need to keep your house warm during the winter, doing a severe weather checklist is essential before things get colder and the risk of fire increases. The cold temperatures in the winter provide a high risk for fires in your home. A home’s furnace can be the first place that potential fires occur, which is especially the case during winter. It will help if homeowners take the necessary steps to avoid furnace problems during the winter months.
It would help to get a gas furnace inspection to prevent a fire from starting. Heating systems account for nearly half of all home fires yearly and cause massive damage annually. Homeowners should not wait until an electrical fire threatens their home before seeking help for these fires, which are often preventable if homeowners take steps early to ensure their homes stay warm and safe during this season.
If you want to ensure that your home is safe from fire, hire a furnace company annually to inspect your home’s heating system. Look for a valid license before choosing someone to ensure that the professionals are trustworthy and knowledgeable about the systems in your home. Hiring someone without a license could put you at risk of severe risks and issues, such as a gap in coverage, which could cause you even more money.
Have Your Septic Tank Pumped
Inspecting your septic tank is a severe weather checklist item to do before winter. The cold winter can damage your septic tank and the surrounding environment. Your pump should be inspected for leaks when it is not in use. When pumping, flush the sump tank with a lot of water so that any leaks or air pockets are expelled into the surrounding area. If a clog is found, it will be helpful to contact your regular plumber to help resolve the problem.
Some septic tanks make extensive noise when pumping because they have sulfide bacteria that produce carbon monoxide when they die. It is normal and healthy for some systems but undesirable for others since it can indicate a severe or dangerous problem. There is a problem if you have a periodic pump that makes noise and doesn’t hear any water running through the lines. Call your local septic companies for assistance.
Any homeowner who does not have a severe weather checklist backup system for their septic tank should install one as soon as possible to prevent damage to the septic system or surrounding area. It ensures that your septic tank will not overflow and cause damage to your home or surrounding area.
Waterproof Your Basement
If you live anywhere that regularly experiences snow, rain, or floods, chances are you’ve thought about a severe weather checklist. You may wonder whether the basement needs to be completely dry before waterproofing. If a leak does spring and the water level rises or if there is an underground stream with a high enough level to make it into your cellar flooring, you will need to ensure that your basement is dry before proceeding with any work below ground.
But even if your home doesn’t have a higher-than-average risk of flooding or moisture intrusion, basement waterproofing can provide peace of mind in difficult weather conditions and help to reduce the risk of mold growth and toxic fumes from wet furnishings.
Suppose you find that your basement floods frequently. In that case, installing a recovery pump can help to protect against future water damage. These pumps are activated by a sensor and will remove the water from your basement as quickly as possible, minimizing property damage and protecting against mold growth.
You can choose between submersible and non-submersible pumps. Each type has its benefits and different waterproofing materials. Submersible pumps are quieter than non-submersible ones and can handle deeper water. But since they sit outside the ground, they require maintenance on the homeowner’s part. Non-submersible pumps have fewer moving parts, reducing their risk of breaking and making them less expensive.
Cover the Pool
Covering the pool in winter is a severe weather checklist that can avoid the hassle and expense of pool maintenance. It would help if you closed the pool on the first or second day of freezing temperatures. It is not wise waiting until they are going to freeze. You can use a big bucket with about a three-foot diameter so it will stay open when you push it into the ground like an upside-down cone shape by piling sand around its circumference and its base for more stability.
Your swimming pool will be safe from hazards like leaks and damage if you keep it closed until the first day of freezing temperatures. Close up your pools during severe winter weather if there is no danger of ice dams forming on your roof that could cause shingles to fall off or leak into your swimming pool.
To close up your pool, you can use the attachment rod that comes with your in-ground pool. You can use a heavy-duty plastic dumpster lid, depending on your swimming pool size. If you do not want to use the in-ground pool’s attachment rod, you can buy a vast shovel or an even larger dumpster lid if your swimming pool is too big for an average-sized shovel to work with for your project. You can hire pool builders if you are not adept with pool repairs.
Get Any Needed Repairs Done
Preparing for winter involves getting any repairs done and reviewing the severe weather checklist. Maintaining your home is among the most relevant things you can do to protect against summer storms, heavy snowfalls, and ice storms.
Ensure your gutters are cleaned and maintained. Cleaning gutters will help prevent unwanted leaves and debris from entering your home. It would help if you emptied gutters at least every spring, but check them each fall to ensure they are not clogged. If needed, you can clean out your gutters at the beginning of winter. Inspect the gutter downspouts to stop the leaks that cause leaves and debris to flow into your home. Look for loose connections at the bottom that could cause leaks that increase in size during storms.
A properly installed roof covering in good condition is an essential component of your home that protects against winter storms. It would help if you also inspected roof coverings such as shingles, tiles, or asphalt for cracks, holes, broken sheets, and loose flashings. You can replace deteriorated shingles before winter arrives to prevent leaks and other damage.
Ensure your home foundation walls are in good shape and free of cracks, loose stones, or deteriorating concrete. If you see any problems with the foundation walls or the house’s overhang, get them evaluated by a professional to determine the need for foundation repairs.
Clean Out Your Home
Cleaning your home is another severe weather checklist to consider before winter. It might seem daunting, but the benefits of making the most of your space and reducing the clutter in your home will make it worth it. The first step is to survey your home for unnecessary items you might need to trash or donate. One way to do this is by taking a photo of each room and then going through one room at a time. The goal here is not much about the organization but streamlining your space so you can find more things easily.
As you go through each room, you’ll want to consider what items have sentimental or monetary value; you may also want to consider selling them instead of just getting rid of them. After that, you can finish purging the unnecessary items by boxing them up and donating or throwing them away. It’s recommended that you do this process once a month with the help of dumpster rental services to prevent clutter from piling up again.
One of the enormous benefits of cleaning your home is that it will help reduce stress and save money. By reducing the number of unnecessary things in your home, you’ll create more space for more things you love, such as family photos and other sentimental items. Clear out your home today and enjoy the benefits of a good home.
In conclusion, it’s always important to be prepared for every situation with the severe weather checklist, especially when the weather turns cold and winter storms can come anytime. Before severe weather arrives, prepare your home with all the necessary items that a storm could bring in, such as gas generators, emergency power systems, and plenty of supplies like food and water.
It’s essential to take time to prepare for the winter season because a storm can arise quickly. One of the best ways to do this is by putting together a weather checklist and checking it twice. Be sure your home is ready for snow, ice, and high winds. Weather is unpredictable and can change within no time, so ensure your family is always safe and prepared.