Fall Preparation for Winter Precipitation

When the beautiful fall leaves turn and the air becomes crisp is a good time to think about how to prepare for the coming cold months. It is important to make sure your home is ready for the coming winter. Winter can cause cause costly bills. Heating costs can double if your windows are poorly insulated or if the heating system is out-of-date. Plumbing can break or burst creating extensive damage to your home and high water bills. To prevent damage, it is just as important to winterize your home even if it will be vacant for long periods of time. Making proper precautions to ensure your home is prepared for winter can save you time, money and a lot of unnecessary hassle.

• Learn how to properly shut off your water valve (in case a pipe bursts) and turn your water off every time you leave your mountain home.
• Insulate pipes with insulation and wrap any exposed pipes.
• Clean your gutters; make sure water can flow freely through your gutters to avoid icicles and ice dams.
• Change your ceiling fans clockwise to force hot air at the ceiling towards the floor.
• Replacing the filters in your forced heating unit improves the efficiency of your unit.
• Window insulation film can help keep heat from escaping out your windows.
• Winterize your home to extend the life of your fuel supply by insulating walls and attics, caulking and weather-stripping doors and windows, and installing storm windows or covering windows with plastic.
•  The simple act of installing a storm door can increase energy efficiency by 45%, by sealing drafts and reducing air flow
• Placing a rolled towel at the bottom of your exterior door or a draft guard prevents heat from leaking out.
• Maintain heating equipment and chimneys by having them cleaned and inspected every year. Your chimney doesn’t necessarily need to be swept every single year, but it does need an annual inspection. Wood stoves, however, should be swept more often.
• Trim tree branches near your windows, roof, or parking areas before the weight of winter ice and snow can cause them to snap.
• Inspect your home for any openings where animals could use to get inside. Make sure your fireplace flue or damper is closed, as bats, birds and squirrels are known to get inside this way.
• Winterize your house, barn, shed or any other structure that may provide shelter for your family, neighbors, livestock or equipment.
• Keep fire extinguishers on hand, and make sure everyone in your house knows how to use them. House fires pose an additional risk, as more people turn to alternate heating sources without taking the necessary safety precautions.
• It is wise to communicate with a trusted  friend or neighbor if you plan to be gone for a prolonged period of time and make sure they have your contact information. Taking these steps can help protect your home from theft, water damage, and heating or electrical system issues while you are away.

Early this year we experienced extreme low temperatures and lots of snow. Pine Cove lost of over a million gallons of water in February and March this year. This loss was a result of many leaks around the District and caused by freezing temperatures. PCWD always recommends turning your water off at the street customer valve to prevent any water disasters or leaks. Conserving water whenever possible is important to this District.  Pine Covers are very aware and are cautious about conserving water as much as possible.  If you  aren’t sure how you can reduce your water usage,  we have many water conservation tips here on the blog and on our website at pcwd.org that are useful for conserving water both inside the house as well as outside.