Winter in Utah is starting to creep in, as the snow is already covering roads in Davis and Salt Lake counties. It’s a sign that the holiday season is just weeks away. Although this is exciting, the cold season also brings a variety of problems. One of them is the probability of a winter storm.
Snowmaggedon
Heavy snow combined with strong winds can wreak havoc on your property. It can lead to toppled trees, collapsed roofs, and uncomfortably low temperatures. The effects of winter storms are expected to intensify, too, as climate change continues to happen across the globe.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the frequency of extreme snowstorms in the Eastern part of the United States has increased throughout the past 100 years. There are twice as many intense winter storms now more than in the first half of the century. This is because the warmer than usual ocean temperatures leading to high amounts of moisture in the atmosphere, intensifying winter storms.
NOAA stated that the “snowmaggedon” that hit Washington DC in 2010 is a prime example of this. There were over 17.8 inches of snow at the Reagan International Airport at that time. Scientists attributed this to the unusually high surface temperatures of the Atlantic ocean at the time.
The probability of a snowstorm hitting your area is not something you should take lightly. Here are effective ways to prepare your property for one.
Get Some Landscaping Done
If you want your lawn, shrubs, and trees to survive the cold weather, you need to do some landscaping in preparation for it.
- Remove Dead or Dying Plants – Your dead or dying plants will just serve as shelter for diseases and insects during the cold weather. They’ll just end up spreading to your other plants. Pull out and burn your dying plants just to be sure.
- Provide Nutrition for the Snowy Season – Fertilize your plants while you still have the chance. This helps lock nutrients into your soil and plants and make them more resilient during winter. Use slow-release fertilizers, as they deliver nutrients gradually throughout the season.
- Get Your Plants Pruned – Pruning is vital to keeping your plants healthy. It removes dying branches, allowing plants to grow new and healthy ones. Hire a tree pruning service. Tree pruning is essential before winter, as weak and dying branches may break off when snow builds up on them, threatening the safety of your family and people passing by your home.
Keep Your Gutters in Good Shape
Your gutters have the crucial job of draining off melted snow and ice this season. As such, it’s important that they’re sturdy and free of any clogging. Clogged drains can cause ice dams. These are ridges of ice that form on your roof that prevent melted snow from draining. Instead, the water leaks into the roof, causing damage to your joists, insulation, and walls. Remove debris like sticks and leaves from your gutters with a broom. Get gutter guards made of galvanized sheet metal installed as well, so future debris doesn’t get in the way of water draining down your roof.
Prepare Your Plumbing
Winter storms are sure to bring immensely cold winds that could freeze your pipes. Water expands when it freezes into ice, possibly causing your pipes to rupture or even explode. Drain the water from your outdoor pipes before the cold season starts to avoid this issue. Keep your indoor pipes toasty by installing insulation, too. You can get the simple foam ones that wrap around your pipes or insulation with heating cables and thermostats. It depends on how cold it gets in your area.
Flood-proof Your Home
Massive amounts of snow can cause flooding to your home if it has drainage issues or doesn’t have enough waterproofing. Make sure holes on your interior and exterior walls are properly sealed. Replace your door and window’s weatherstripping if it’s worn out. You could also have a sump pump installed, if you expect your basement to get flooded. It’s a machine that efficiently sucks floodwater out of your property.
Repair Structural Issues
Structural issues, especially on your roof can be dangerous during a snowstorm, as snow build-up and strong winds can cause it to collapse. Have a contractor look at your home’s roof and structural components for any damage. Get them repaired immediately before the cold season rolls in.
The property damage and safety issues that winter storms bring should never be taken lightly. These effects are expected to intensify as time goes on. Get your home prepared for the worst, so all there’s left to worry about is giving yourself and your guests the best time during the holiday season.