Prepare for winter..We have you covered

12/31/2015 (Permalink)

Preparing your home and business for winter...

Tips for Preparing Your Home &  Business for Winter Weather

Home

1) Keep cabinet doors open during cold spells. This allows warm air to circulate around pipes.

 2) Keep a slow trickle of water flowing through faucets, especially if the pipes for faucets run through unheated or non-insulated areas of your home.

 3)Consider shutting off outdoor faucets. Find the shut-off valve in the basement or crawl space and turn it to “off.”

 3a)If you follow the previous step, then open the outdoor faucet to help ensure it drains completely and the inner valve is shut off.

4)Ensure gutters are clean and secure. Leaves and debris accumulate, causing a damming effect on gutters, which could lead to roof problems and water damage.

5)Proper maintenance of your furnace can help reduce the risk of puff backs

Business 

1)Check your business property for downed tree limbs and branches. Weather, such as wind, heavy rain, ice and snow, can cause branches to fall, which could cause damage to the property and potentially cause personal injuries.

2)Inspect property, especially walkways and parking lots, for proper drainage to alleviate flood hazard potential.

3)Inspect all handrails, stairwells and entryways to address and correct potential slippery or hazardous areas. Install mats or non-slip surfaces and post caution signs where water could be present.

Why these steps are important. Preventing these problems from happening is always easier and more cost effective than dealing with an emergency situation. Below you will find some information about some of the information above so that you have a better understand the need for prevention.

What is a puff back?

A puff back is a messy furnace malfunction that occurs when an oil burner backfires, sending soot throughout your home or business. It can happen all at once, covering an interior in grimy soot, or a puff back can leak soot particles more gradually.

Frozen Pipes

A frozen pipe can burst at the point where the ice blockage inside the pipe is located, but typically the rupture is caused by the backflow pressure between the water source and the blockage. A burst pipe can cause considerable damage to your property if not addressed quickly.