CLEVELAND — With freezing temperatures on the horizon, you're probably wondering what you can do to help keep your home safe.
Here are some tips to get your home ready for the upcoming cold weather:
- Protect your pipes - You can do this by allowing warm water to drip slightly overnight and making sure everyone knows where to shut off the water.
- Check the heat - Change your furnace filter and consider installing a programmable thermostat.
- Prevent ice dams: Unclog your gutters, seal places that may allow warm air to leak, and be sure to soffit vents.
- Clean and store lawn equipment - Empty all of the fuel, clean the machine of oil and store them in a basement, garage or covered storage shed.
- Inspect fireplace and chimney - Consider having a professional clean your chimney and installing glass fireplace doors to block cold air from coming out.
- Seal windows and doors - Caulk around windows and add storm windows and doors.
- Stock up on cold-weather essentials - Consider buying a working fire extinguisher, an alternative heat source, sand, ice melt and a shovel.
For more information on ways to get your home ready for the cold weather, click here.
