As we have officially entered into the fall season in Ohio, many are enjoying getting back to the normalities of life. While we may never feel like anything is totally normal in the year 2020, the familiarity of leaves changing color, carving pumpkins, picking out Halloween costumes, and even returning to school has brought some comfort in this crazy year.
If we have learned anything this year, it’s that there’s no way to know what the future holds. We can’t even be sure what this winter will look like for citizens of Ohio. It is probably safe to say, however, we can plan to spend a lot of time at home with our families.
As the temperatures continue to drop, there will be less socially distanced outdoor activities to attend and more cozy nights by the fire, more games played around your table, and more movies watched on the couch.
In the year 2020, our homes have been our safest place, and it’s important they stay that way through the winter.
Keeping Your Home Safe This Winter
In Ohio, winter tends to be a very wet season. A winter storm in Ohio has the possibility of introducing a lot of moisture to your home. Whether it’s snow or rain, we can guarantee both could be a threat to your home if it is not properly maintained.
In your time at home this fall we want to encourage you to take these simple maintenance steps to ensure a warm, cozy, and DRY winter this year.
Clean Your Gutters
As leaves begin to fall most people focus most of their efforts on their yards. Raking the leaves, and winterizing gardens are important steps to preparing for winter, but cleaning out your gutters will be equally important.
When leaves and other debris get trapped in your gutters and downspouts, it provides an opportunity for water and snow to pool in your gutters and consequently leak into your home.
Make Repairs
Keeping up on home repairs will save you a lot of money and time in the long run. A small leak or crack can turn into a big problem in no time. Be diligent in walking the outside of your property to look for damage and check high risk areas inside your home such as your ceilings and basements.
Check Your Pipes
The pipes within your home can be easily overlooked. Whether you do it yourself or hire a professional, you want to keep an eye on your pipes. You are looking for any sign or cracks or aging that could lead to a leak or even worse a burst pipe.
In the winter, heating your home is important not just for your comfort but to keep your pipes from freezing which can also cause leaks and water damage.
Test Your Sump Pump
If there is one thing you will want to have for an Ohio winter and spring, it’s a sump pump. We recommend you have your sump pump tested once a year, and the fall is a great time to do this!
Your home will be much better protected from a cold wet winter storm with a sump pump.
Now, keeping up with these simple home maintenance tasks will definitely give you a better chance of preventing water damage in your home this winter. However, when it comes to acts of nature, we can never guarantee your home will be completely safe from a winter storm.
This is where we come in. Reliant Restoration specializes in storm damage repair and has been serving the Springfield, Ohio area for years. We know the risks a winter storm in Ohio presents to your home, and we are here to help you safely and quickly get back to your cozy nights in if damage occurs in your home this winter.