Michael Matthews and Ofir Hillel, brokers/owners of Orange Key Realty, believe the following suggestions can make a big difference for protecting your biggest investment, your home.”
Keep your pipes warm. Some of the most expensive winter damage comes from burst pipes. Wrap the pipes in the cold parts of your house in insulation, and open kitchen and bathroom cabinets to allow warm air to circulate around the pipes. Let water drip slowly from the faucets to help keep the water flowing.
Avoid ice-dam damage. Another cause of winter damage is from ice dams. This happens when the heat inside your house causes water to melt in the middle of your roof and then refreezes near the edges, creating a dam that can lead to leaks in your roof and damage to your ceilings and walls. To help protect against this problem, keep your attic cold, within 5-10 degrees warmer than the outside temperature.
Protect the outside of your house. Clean your gutters so water doesn’t back up and freeze. Check downspouts and make sure water will be diverted away from your house. Trim any low-hanging tree branches that can freeze, snap and damage your house or power lines. Use weather stripping or caulk to seal drafty windows and doors.
Check your roof. If a lot of snow accumulates, your roof could collapse — especially flat roofs or the roof over porches and additions. When heavy snow starts to build up, consider getting a roof rake with a long handle so you can remove packed snow while you are on the ground and out of harm’s way.
Buy a carbon monoxide detector. One of the biggest winter dangers is carbon monoxide poisoning, caused by improper ventilation of furnaces, generators, charcoal-burning, propane-burning devices or wood-burning stoves.
Consider a generator. Something to keep in mind as you make longer-term preparations for the rest of the winter is a generator that can help keep your heat and power — as well as your sump pump and your fire and burglar alarms — running. Orange Key Realty’s staff of sales professionals can be reached at either 863 Georges Road, Monmouth Junction (732- 297-6969) serving Middlesex County and 60 E. Main St., Freehold (732-863-6969) serving Monmouth County, or visit www.orangekeyrealty.com.