How to Prepare for Freezing Temps

Alabama is gearing up for the first freeze of the season. Whether you are a first-time homeowner or have been a homeowner for years, we all need to know how to prep our home for freezing temps. Here are some tips to keep your home safe:

Protect Your Pipes

We all know that water expands when it freezes. If water inside your pipes freezes, it also expands and can cause your pipes to crack or burst. Follow these easy steps to prevent this catastrophic damage:

• -Leave water dripping from your faucets. Running water through your pipes overnight will help prevent pipes from freezing.
• -Cover all outdoor faucets with foam insulators that you can get from a local hardware store.
• -Know where your water shutoff value is in the case of emergency. In most homes it can be found in the basement or buried near the road.
• -Leave your cabinet doors open under a sink faucet to help heat circulate. This is important for homes that do not have excellent heat circulation  throughout the house.

Check Your Heat

The time to ensure you’re staying warm in your home is not during a winter storm. Now is a good time to check your furnace or heat source by turning it on and doing a test run. If you did not change your air filter at the start of the winter season you will want to consider replacing with a new one. A clogged filter is less efficient and means your home may not be warming properly.

Still needs tips to fully winterize your home? We have you covered!

Don’t Forget About Your Plants

Your plants have feelings too! It’s crucial for you to take steps to protect them during cold nights. Bring any small potted plants (like succulents) indoors. Cover any other plants outdoor with mulch, blankets, cardboard, etc. to keep them safe. Ensure that you have your sprinkler system turned off.

What to Do if Your Pipes Freeze or Burst

You first need to determine which pipe is frozen. You can do that by turning on all of the facets in your home and whichever has no water or slowly dripping water is frozen. Keep the water dripping and begin to apply heat to the pipe. You can do this with a blow dryer, heat lamp or hot towel. The heat should melt the ice and prevent the burst. If your pipes burst you immediately need shut off the main water value to the house and call a professional.

Are you looking to sell your home this winter season or purchase a new one? If so, contact the agents at ARC Realty. Call us today at (205) 969-8910 and let us help you sell your home or find the home of your dreams.