Posted December 28, 2023 by H. Kelley Riley, M.D., MBA, Chief Medical Officer
Ohioans know better than most—Old Man Winter can sure pack a punch. While some years are certainly worse than others, wintertime brings about shorter and gray days, freezing temperatures, blustery winds and icy conditions.
As you dust off your hats, gloves, cozy sweaters and insulated boots this winter, it’s also important to take precautions to get your home ready for the season ahead. Plunging temps and freezing water can wreak havoc on your home—putting your family at risk.
SummaCare offers 7 tips to protect your home and family during inclement weather. While no one can stop the onset of winter, following these suggestions will get your home ready and help keep your family safe when it comes.
When water freezes, it expands. Since there isn’t room to expand, frozen water lines will often burst causing flooding inside your home. To avoid burst pipes, keep your house heated to a temperature of at least 55 degrees. It’s also a good idea to insulate pipes under sinks, in attics, crawl spaces, basements and those along exterior walls. In addition, turn off and drain outdoor taps, and put an insulated sleeve on them for added protection.
In case of emergencies, be sure you know where your home’s water shutoff is located and how to turn it off to minimize water damage.
Be sure to get your gutters cleaned before frigid temps arrive. Installing gutter guards can help prevent leaves from clogging them.
When gutters are filled with leaves and other debris, excess water can build up and create ice dams. They can damage roof shingles, and the extra weight can crack gutters. Ice dams can even cause melting water to back up and flow into your home.
It’s a good idea to have your furnace inspected and serviced annually to ensure it not only works properly and efficiently throughout the season, but also helps prevent untimely breakdowns. Also, change the air filter more often in wintertime to keep your system operating at its best and improve indoor air quality.
In addition, get your chimney inspected, cleaned and repaired (if necessary). Chimneys are one of the biggest causes of home fires. Wood-burning fireplaces leave behind ash and highly flammable carbon residue. A blocked chimney or flue can cause a house fire or put your family at risk for carbon monoxide poisoning.
Since families spend more time indoors over the winter, it’s a good time to replace batteries and make sure smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are working properly.
You also can use this time to develop an evacuation plan, if you don’t already have one. Then, conduct a drill with your family to practice the plan.
Before the first snowfall, give your snowblower or snowplow a quick tune-up. Change the oil, lubricate moving parts and test to make sure they’re in good, working condition.
If you choose to shovel any snow this season, buy an ergonomic snow shovel to lessen the burden on your back and arms.
Whether you’re shoveling or snow blowing, it’s important to take precautions. Exercising in frigid temperatures puts extra strain on your heart. Take frequent breaks away from the wind chill and shovel every couple hours, instead of all at once. Breaking the work into shifts reduces the burden on your body.
Icy, slippery conditions unfortunately cause many slips, trips and falls and common wintertime injuries. Use rock salt, sand or clay-based kitty litter on walks and drives, and use outdoor lighting to illuminate pathways to help prevent falls.
When heading outside, make sure your shoes or boots have a sole with good traction and a low heel to help prevent slips and falls. Watch where you’re going, keep your hands free and tread carefully to avoid icy patches. Use handrails whenever possible for additional stability.