Winter weather is unavoidable in most places but there are ways to avoid a lot of damage that can follow a storm.
Taking an active approach to weather-proofing can save homeowners thousands of dollars if not more, and hours of aggravation.
According to Consumer Reports, water damage accounts for a majority of homeowners' insurance claims.
-Insulate exposed water pipes so they don't freeze and crack when the temperature drops.
-Know how to shut off the water so if the pipes do crack, the damage is minimized.
-Insulate walls, attics, and crawl spaces.
This will keep the heat inside, and help prevent ice dams from forming on your roof.
-Speaking of roofs, repair any damage or loose shingles.
-Snow or ice that collects on a roof will exacerbate the existing damage and leak inside.
-Clean out drains or gutters.
-A blockage can cause water to back up and freeze, potentially causing roof leaks or ice dams.
-Remove weak trees and branches. These can fall on your home or vehicle during a storm and cause severe damage.
A few more money-saving tips are to change your furnace filter when they're dirty, they have to work harder - costing you money.
And change the direction of your ceiling fans, yes, use them in the winter in the clockwise direction to distribute warm air in the room.
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