{"id":8533,"date":"2016-12-12T20:30:56","date_gmt":"2016-12-12T20:30:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.reinhartrealtors.com\/blog\/?p=8533"},"modified":"2016-12-12T20:30:56","modified_gmt":"2016-12-12T20:30:56","slug":"keep-warm-safe-winter-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/3156williamsburg2.reinhartrealtors.com\/blog\/keep-warm-safe-winter-season\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Keep Warm and Safe This Winter Season"},"content":{"rendered":"

Whether it’s a polar vortex, arctic blast or old-fashioned winter storm, make sure your home is protected and stay warm with these tips. Meteorologists are predicting a slew of arctic blasts and winter storms this 2017-2018 season.
\nWith these arctic blasts, temperatures could drop more than 30 degrees, which can wreak havoc on your home. So what can you do to prepare your home post haste for winter storms?
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\nService Your HVAC
\n<\/strong>First, make sure your HVAC has been properly serviced for the winter. Doing so will ensure it\u2019s running efficiently and safely.
\n\"CheckCheck Your Smoke Detectors<\/strong>
\nCheck your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors\u00a0to ensure they are in working order. Installing a carbon monoxide detector near your furnace and water heater is a good idea, especially since they could be running on overdrive in freezing temps.
\nMake sure to shut off all the rooms you don\u2019t use. This helps the house stay warmer in the rooms you do occupy. Keep in mind that heat rises so if you are in a\u00a0two-story home, your upstairs will generally be warmer than your first floor.
\n\"frozenInsulate Pipes<\/strong>
\nNext, your plumbing, most importantly those pipes around your house. Disconnect hoses from each spigot, drain and store them. Then insulate any spigot that\u2019s above ground. It is suggested that you cover all exposed pipes (laundry room, pool equipment, sprinkler system) with insulation or protective covering. You can even use bubble wrap. Another tip is to locate your main water shutoff in case a pipe does freeze and burst.
\nCover Your Water Heater
\n<\/strong>Is your water heater in the garage or attic? If so, cover it with either an insulator wrap kit or a blanket if the R-value on the label is less than 25.
\n\"Two
\nClean Your Fireplace
\n<\/strong>If you\u2019re fortunate enough to have a fireplace, make sure to get the chimney cleaned, check that the chimney cap is in place and buy plenty of firewood and store in a dry place. Have plenty of matches, candles and flashlights with fresh batteries available if the power happens to go out.
\nPrepare Your Foundation
\n<\/strong>Take a walk around the foundation of your home. Make sure debris is moved away and check and fill any cracks you see. An old farmer’s trick is to buy a few bales of hay and scatter it up against your foundation. This can help keep your floors warmer and less drafty.
\nDrain the Gas
\n<\/strong>It\u2019s best to drain all gasoline from your outdoor equipment such as your lawnmower. Make sure your snow shovel is accessible and have plenty of rock salt on hand in case of a deep freeze.\"Emergency-Kit-\"
\nMost importantly, prepare an emergency kit. Here\u2019s what you need to stock up on:<\/p>\n