Are you prepared for winter storms? Winter preparations for your home differ if you live on base or if you live off. According to a study conducted in 2010 analyzing family housing choices, 22% of respondents lived in on-base military housing, 32% rented in the community, and 38% owned homes in the community. There is a learning curve to being your own landlord when transitioning from on-base housing to off-base housing. For those who have lived solely in on-base housing, preparing for winter in a rental home or your own home off-base is a new experience. Be equipped with these tips.
Trim trees
Trees look beautiful, draped in snow and ice. But a tree that came through a window in your bedroom with said winter décor is not. Tree branches become heavy when covered in ice and snow, so if there are tree branches within falling distance of your home, make sure to trim them back before the winter weather is anticipated.
Empty hoses
Anything outside in the elements can allow the water to pool in it, which can freeze in temperatures below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Pull hoses off of outside spigots and drain all the water from them. Store them in an outdoor shed or garage until spring.
Turn water off outside
In the same vein as hoses, turning off outside sources prevents water from pooling to that source. For instance, if the faucet outside fills with water and the temperatures drop below freezing, the water inside can expand and split the waterline. A crack in a water line can lead to a flood inside the home.
Prepare the pool
If you have a pool in an area with freezing temperatures in winter, hire someone to prepare the pool for winter. They can appropriately prepare all pipes and tubing as well as
Make sure your contact information is up to date for your insurance.
If there is a winter hail storm, for instance, your insurance will likely contact you if you are in an area with a storm. They will check to see if there is damage.
Check your HVAC.
If you have been living in base housing, you should have been provided filters to change monthly, but it is up to you to do it depending on the base. When you move into your own home, the need to continue to change your filters in the recommended time frame continues. Also, doing seasonal maintenance is key.
Clean Fireplaces.
Fireplaces are not standard in military housing. When moving into a home with a wood-burning fireplace, ensure that the chimney is cleared and allow for smoke to move freely. If it is a gas fireplace, make sure all the connections and fans are working appropriately. Either way, make sure there is a functioning Carbon Monoxide detector nearby.
Clean out gutters.
Clean out gutters of sticks and foliage from the gutter to prevent melting snow and ice from moving through the gutters. If there is a backup of vegetation, a build-up of ice can stay on the roof or gutter, leading to strain on the drainage system.
Prepare for snow/ice.
Make sure to have salt on hand to ice driveways and walkways. Plan for clearing snow off driveways or sidewalks. Be familiar with what the county or state will do in regards to neighborhood roads. Be prepared to clear snow and ice on driveways and walkways in your direct vicinity.
Do you have any tips to add to prepare your home for winter?
The old Chief says…
I am a retired US Air Force Chief Master Sergeant (E-9) with over 30-years on active duty. I have pretty much seen it all; not everything, but enough to offer some advice…
I want to commend Heather Walsh on a wonderful article. Now she just needs you to act proactively. Over my many years of service, it amazed me that there are folks who just will not prepare for an emergency; then it happens, and now it’s too late.
When I joined the Air Force in January 1971 (the middle of Winter…), I arrived at Lackland AFB (home-of-record was New York State…). I was wearing a hat, coat and gloves. At that time, the Air Force was processing 8-flights of 50-personel each (400 recruits a day…). The new recruits coming in from Florida and California, for example, showed up in t-shirts, shorts, and sandles. Texas was enjoying a balmy 30-50 degree days and the mornings were near freezing… Some were almost crying from being so cold until the next day when they were issued uniforms… These are the folks who will not heed Heather Walsh’s words of wisdom.
But I digress, my advice concerns driving in winter. As I stated earlier, I am originally from New York State (Upstate, the Adirondacks, where snow is measured in feet, not inches…). I was also stationed at Griffiss AFB, NY, where we received “Lake Effect Snow” where the snow can be dumped in several feet deep overnight. And I was also stationed at Offutt AFB, NE, and the winters were HORRIBLE!!!
So, it is with some expertise that I offer this advice. Yeah, I know winter is almost over, but this advice is also intended for those who will prepare for the worse and are ready next year… Before the weather turns, have your battery checked at one of your local auto parts stores, if it’s weak or near it’s warranted length it’s time to get a new one. When it gets cold, it will fail… Now check those windshield wipers and the washer fluid good till -30 degrees (do NOT use water, it will freeze…), when driving on winter roads, it is all too common for the slush (with salt, sand, and all sorts of nasty crud…) to coat your windshield and you’ll need to clean it off to see.
Next, get yourself a good quality ice/snow scraper and a pair of gloves to stash with the scraper (because you’ll need it and you will not have gloves with you…).
Next, you are probably going to get stuck, stop by an “Army/Navy Surplus Store” and pick up a Tri-Fold Entrenching Tool (a folding metal shovel) and put an old plastic milk jug full of Kitty Litter or sand in the trunk (because you or someone will get stuck…).
You will also need proper tires. High-speed, low profile racing tires might be nice for highway driving, but they do not hack it in the snow or on ice. Get proper snow tires or at least “all weather” tires. If you decided to pick up snow chains, be smart and test putting them on your car when it is still warm and dry (and then take them off…). You will be surprised how difficult it is to put them on when it is freezing, raining, sleeting, and dark…
Keep your car fueled up, the old theory was that moisture would condense in your gas tank and then the water would freeze in your gas line. Nowadays, you had better have enough gas in case you get stranded in the snow and you’ll need the gas to keep the engine running to stay warm.
Then this little secret will save you a ton of trouble, dampen a rag with WD-40 and wipe a light sheen on all the door, hood, and trunk rubber seals. If you get freezing rain, the door seals often freeze to the metal frame and the doors are almost impossible to open.
There are so much more and I could go on and on, but you can Google “winter driving advice” and get all you need.
So the moral is, be prepared for the worse, and hope for the best. It will only get worse if you have not prepared! Just saying…
Keep your ear to the ground and your nose to the wind. As always — Aim High!
Chief