Withstanding Wintery Weather
As winter firmly grasps us in her cold embrace, it’s important to practice some small, but very important routines to ensure your home stays safe and secure during extremely frigid temperatures. Not only does the risk of fires skyrocket during colder months, but there’s always a threat of water pipes freezing over and busting. If you’re anything like me, you don’t mind the cooler temperatures and actually enjoy bundling up in hoodies and warm, soft clothing, but if you’re absolutely against the chill, you’re counting down the days until warmer weather returns.
People who live in the South are notoriously joked for their winter preparedness…or lack thereof. We’ve all heard the famous headline of "Snowmageddon” that happened in 2014 when thousands of people in Atlanta got stuck on the interstate after a few inches of snow fell, melted a little, and turned into dangerous ice. The roads weren’t treated ahead of time, and everyone and their momma tried to head home at the exact same time, leading to massive pileups of traffic everywhere.
That day will forever live on in Georgia history as a consequence of not taking heed to the winter storm warning from meteorologists. It even led to the creation of a Winter Weather Task Force and many Metro Atlanta cities invested in more equipment to better prep and clear the roads. Now, anytime severe winter weather is in the forecast, everyone takes it seriously and oftentimes the world comes to a complete stop until the wintery white stuff has melted.
It’s so funny when Northerners complain that Southerners act like snow is the end of the world because for many of us, it is lowkey. The infrastructure isn’t built to withstand any torrential snow storm, nor are many locals experienced in driving in those types of conditions. It’s much safer to just keep everyone at home until things blow over than to have people stuck for hours, or sometimes even days.
Even if there isn’t a chance of snow, extremely low temperatures pose their own risks. Heating systems can struggle heating a home, leaving individuals who aren’t as tolerant of the cold to suffer from low body temperature or even freeze. Common building materials like brick, wood, and vinyl can crack and warp from numerous freeze-thaw cycles. Moisture trapped by snow and ice can lead to premature rotting of wood around decks. Glass on windows and doors can even start cracking and we can’t forget about the tiny gaps that form over time and let cold air seep in to steal warmth.
For the people who love a live fire, it’s pertinent to clean out any debris in your fireplace before the first burn of the season. Sometimes animals like squirrels will pack a chimney with leaves, creating a massive fire hazard. Portable space heaters and electric blankets pose electrical fire risks so it’s always a good idea to never leave them on unattended and to unplug them if you want to be extra cautious.
Ice on sidewalks and driveways can easily cause a fall, so be careful walking to your mailbox and frigid temperatures can negatively impact those who suffer from arthritis or other joint debilitating conditions. Fireplaces can also emit Carbon Monoxide, so make sure you have a working detector to avoid any fatal catastrophes from the dangerous odorless, colorless gas.
The best way to protect your home is to prepare before the first cold snap. Cover any outside water faucets with plastic covers and wrap your water heater in insulation to prevent the system from freezing up. Try to caulk any windows or doors that feel drafty to avoid overworking your heater and driving your power bill up from constant usage. Buy some course, road salt or cat litter for your driveway and sidewalks just in case you have to leave during less than ideal conditions.
The most important thing you can do during extremely cold temperatures, is to stay calm, protect yourself, and try to hunker down until conditions get better. Try to maintain a consistent indoor temperature so extreme cold doesn’t get a chance to freeze pipes or HVAC systems. Closing doors is also an effective way of keeping your house warm since necessary heat won’t be escaping to seldom used rooms.
For the pet owners out there, they feel the cold just like we do. It’s important to remember to give them a blanket, a soft furry bed, or a jacket to protect them as well. Sometimes your pet is the perfect heat source to warm your chilly feet up with and they will love being snuggled up right under you too. It’s a win-win situation for everyone involved.
This winter, don’t let the chill make you miserable. Try to stay ahead of the game by bundling up and maintaining a comfortable temperature inside so you don’t feel the debilitating effects of being freezing cold. Make sure you’re prepared in case of a wintery emergency and heed the warnings from the professionals. You never know when staying home might just save your life.
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Signed,
Jessica Marie
