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Happy New Year!

January 11, 2011 on 6:51 pm | In winter maintenence | Comments Off

Winter is now in full swing and in our area, a few inches of snow seems to paralyze the tri-state for a day or so and leave us longing for the warm winds of spring. As we all know, though, spring rushes in for no man and we are left to brave the cold temperatures, snow & ice.

Year after year our homes do their part providing us with shelter from the elements & winter brings with it a variety of challenges both inside and out.

With the rising cost of gas, many homeowners will be supplementing their heating needs with space heaters. Though space heaters have come a long way in regards to their safety and efficiency, unfortunately the wiring in our homes probably has not changed over the past several years. We must use caution with regards to where we use space heaters and never leave them unattended.

Fireplaces and candles can certainly make a home more comfy and relaxing but one spark can change that in a split second. Chimney fires have been known to go unnoticed by homeowners until it’s too late. Never leave a fireplace fire or candle unattended, and as always make sure your smoke detectors are working at all times.

Beware the weight of ice and snow. Although the snow is beautiful to look at, anyone who’s ever shoveled snow  will tell you it is HEAVY! As this white stuff piles up, keep an eye on the roof and gutters especially when there are icy conditions. Many a gutter has given way due to ice & snow buildup, sometimes taking with it the outer edges of the roof.

Last but certainly not least, make sure water pipes are well insulated and protected from the cold. Temperatures at night can drop drastically causing pipes to freeze. Water damage is a nightmare! Not to mention the cost and inconvenience of having no water until repairs are made. Make the extra effort to protect your pipes, you’ll be glad you did.

From all of us here at Northern Ky. Home Ins.,

We hope you have a safe and cozy winter!