Halloween is just around the corner! As the holidays approach, so does another winter in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. For high country homeowners, late autumn is a good time to prepare your home for the colder months. Here a few tips for winter to get your home ready for the cold and snow:
Drain and store hoses. If a garden hose freezes while still connected to the faucet, it can create a frozen pipe catastrophe for your home’s plumbing. Disconnect hoses from outdoor faucets, and drain any water that may be in the hose. Coil the hoses up and store them indoors for the winter.
Extend downspouts. Make sure your gutters are clear of debris, and that your downspouts effectively clear water at least 10 feet from your foundation. This can help to drain snowmelt away from your home and prevent water from accumulating in your basement.
Upgrade your thermostat. A programmable thermostat can more accurately control the temperature of your home throughout the days of winter, which helps to save money on utility bills.
Vacuum heating vents. Dusting or vacuuming any dust and debris that may have accumulated in your home’s heating vents can keep your home’s heating system running at maximum efficiency.
Replace furnace filters. A clean new filter allows your furnace to function more efficiently, and also improves the air quality in your home. Change your filters regularly (every few months or so), especially during the colder seasons when your furnace is running regularly.
Trim tree branches. If you have any tree branches or limbs hanging over structures on your property, trim these back before the snowfall accumulates. Tree branches can break under the weight of heavy snow, and can cause damage if they fall on your property.
Repair or replace your roof. If there are damaged or missing shingles on your roof, have them repaired before the snowy season sets in. This helps to better insulate your home, and also prevents further damage from occurring, such as a water leak where the shingles are missing.
Bonus holiday tip: This Halloween, use battery-powered lights or glow sticks to illuminate your Jack-O-Lanterns. Using these instead of candles can prevent a fire catastrophe during the holiday.
These are all simple tips to maintain your home and prevent property damage this winter. Oh, and remember: we are here to help! Rocky Mountain Catastrophe can be on the scene in Grand or Routt County in as little as 30 minutes, ready to repair anything from water damage to frozen pipes to fire and smoke damage to roof repair to even structural rebuilds. Call us 24/7 – even on holidays!
To contact Rocky Mountain Catastrophe, call 970-722-7744 or email [email protected].
If it’s an emergency, call our emergency line at 970-531-7308 in Grand County or at 970-819-1239 in Routt County.
