Winter Safety Tips for Your Home

Winter can be a wonderful time of the year, but if you don’t take measures to protect yourself, the ice, snow, and extreme temperature can take a toll on your health. Here are some of the top winter safety tips you can follow to prevent that:

1. Remove Ice from Walkways

An icy walkway is a disaster waiting to happen. Prevent people from slipping over it by spreading salt over it. Plus, make sure you never dump water on your walkway during the winter. It will freeze and become slippery.

2. Keep Pipes Insulated

If you have an old house with old plumbing, your pipes can freeze in winter. A burst pipe can cause a flood that can gut your home and ruin your furniture. Use antifreeze to prevent this from happening.

3. Use Space Heaters Safely

Space heaters can warm you up, but they can catch fire if they overheat or torch and torch your home. Never leave one unattended and plug it directly into a wall socket. It will melt extension cords.

4. Inspect Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Smoke and CO2 detectors run on batteries that can run out faster than you may think. Check and replace these at least once a year to be safe. Plus, check the CO2 detector’s expiration date at the bottom. If it isn’t mentioned, replace it in three to five years tops. Replace smoke detectors every eight to 10 years.

5. Warm Up the Car outside the Garage

Even if you leave the garage door open, never warm up your car inside. Carbon monoxide can build up in confined spaces. It’s called the ‘silent killer’ for a reason.

6. Schedule Regular Furnace Inspections

Your furnace can break down without warning without regular maintenance. Schedule one after every six months or so to prevent this during the winter and prevent costly repair bills. A malfunctioning furnace is also a fire hazard.

7. Inspect Outdoor Utility Equipment

Ice and snow can build up on outdoor utilities such as your meter and vents. Brush both off with a broom or a brush every day. Do not use a heat source to melt the snow and be careful when shoveling snow from around the equipment.

8. Prepare Your Roof

Get your roof inspected for resilience before those winter storms hit. It should be strong enough to withstand the weight of snow that will pile up during a storm. Clean out gutters to prevent ice dams from forming.

9. Don’t leave the fireplace unattended

Your fireplace will see a lot of action during the winter, but you should never leave it unattended. Block embers and flaming logs from rolling out with a fireguard or a large metal screen. Remove ashes at least three days after the fire is put out.

10. Keep Generators Outside

Operate generators outside during a power outage in the winter and make sure they are under a covered and dry surface. Carbon monoxide fumes can spread quickly in an enclosed space and poison the air.

Contact SIA Insurance Group for Homeowners Insurance in Woodridge

Get Homeowners insurance in Woodridge, so you don’t have to pay out of pocket for burst pipes and other issues during winter. SIA Insurance Group will work with you to create a tailored plan that can work for you in Woodridge, IL.