As fall begins to fade away and snowflakes start to fall, it’s easy to dive right into preparing for the holidays – and forget about getting your house ready for the winter. Prevent winter-related disasters by following these tips below to prepare your home for a safe, warm and disaster-free winter.

• Winter storms in Michigan can be really damaging. Remove and trim overgrown branches from the house and electrical wires to prevent property damage and/or power outages.
• With the threat of winter rain and snow pounding the area, make sure the water drains away from the house to prevent foundation problems.
• Check the gutters, cleaning them to remove leaves and debris. This will help prevent water back up and ice dams, which can damage your roof and siding.
• Prevent burst pipes and flooding by ensuring pipes are insulated (especially those in unheated areas of the home), turn off water to the outside hose, and keep the heat set no lower than 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Have your fire place cleaned to help prevent house fires.
• With the windows closed and fireplaces running more often, it’s really important to check batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors every month to ensure they’re working properly.
• Winters in Mid-Michigan can make travel difficult, close schools and public services, and even cause extended power outages. Make sure you have supplies on hand, like flashlights and battery-powered portable radios, extra blankets, sleeping bags, and winter coats, as well as extra firewood if your heat is knocked out and you have a fireplace or wood burning stove.

Being proactive now will help keep you, your family and your home safe and warm throughout the winter. If you should run into any issues, the Hammer Restoration team is here for you 24/7 365 days a year to provide emergency response services.