Protect Your Home From The Cold

These bright sunny skies have been lovely, but the biting cold weather has served as a reminder that winter (and all that comes with it) is still very much upon us. Harsh, cold temperatures can be very hard on your homes at the Lake of the Ozarks. As your trusted real estate agent at the Lake, I urge you to take precautionary methods to protect your homes (and yourselves) from this frigid weather.

Here are some of the steps I recommend taking to help protect your homes from the cold.

☃  Insulate exposed pipes with foam pipe insulation.

☃  Clean your gutters so water cannot pool and freeze in them.

☃  Remove/cover window air conditioning units.

☃  Fill any cracks and/or holes in the sides of your home with caulk.

☃  Add weather stripping around your doors to prevent losing warm air.

☃  Have de-icers on hand.

☃  Trim tree branches close to your home or where you park your car.

☃  Set your thermostat high enough that your pipes won't freeze if you leave town.

☃  Seal holes around ceiling fans and light fixtures to keep warm air from escaping into the attic.

☃  Keep an emergency kit with batteries, flashlights, and a battery-operated radio. 

☃  Make sure you always have enough food in your house to feed your family and your pets for at least three days.

Winter storms (or prolonged exposure to exceedingly cold temperatures) can take a serious toll on homes, so be sure to thoroughly check your homes for damage after particularly harsh conditions have passed. Do you have any other suggestions for keeping your home safe in cold weather? I'd love to hear your suggestions!

Susan Spica, Professional Realtor

BerkShire Hathaway HomeServices
101 Crossings West, Ste. 202
Lake Ozark, MO 65049

Office: (573) 365-6868
Susan's Cell: (573) 280-0484
Gina's Cell: (573) 889-9477