Important Tips for Preparing Your Home for Freezing Temperatures

Here in Charleston, every season has its own special maintenance needs, and that’s especially true when the temperatures start to plummet. Freezing temperatures are relatively rare in the Lowcountry, but even one night with temperatures dropping into the 20s can cause damage to your property. Be prepared by taking preventative measures to protect your home.

HVAC: 

Make sure your home’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system is running efficiently and effectively so when cold weather arrives you’ll be able to crank up the heat with no problems. At a minimum, replace filters and inspect and repair broken parts.

Building Footprint:

Ensure that the perimeter of your home is in good condition, and enclose any unnecessary crawl space openings, if you have them. Inspect insulation and repair/replace as needed.

Yard:

Winterize your landscaping, including trimming trees and shrubs to reduce exterior damage. Ensure that vegetation and grass are properly graded to avoid water and ice sitting against your property’s foundation, which can lead to interior water damage. Disconnect any garden hoses and drain any remaining water in your exterior faucets to prevent the hassle of burst pipes.

Roof:

Inspect and repair your building’s roof for loose shingles or damage to existing flashing. To prevent the potential for ice dams to form, clean gutters and make sure they are properly secured to the building.

Windows:

Inspect windows both inside and outside to ensure they are properly sealed. Doing so can reduce energy bills while simultaneously preventing excess moisture and mold risks.

Plumbing:

Colder temperatures put pipes at higher risk for freezing and bursting. An easy way to avoid this is to run a slow drip of hot and cold water in your sinks during times of below freezing temperatures. You should also insulate and seal cracks and openings around exposed pipes to prevent pipes from bursting.