Home Prepardness Checklist

1. Have your heating system checked by a professional once a year to ensure safe and efficient operation. Clean your fireplace or stove and be sure your chimney is clear of any obstrucions. Have your chimney cleaned at least once a year or as needed.

2. Destructive ice dams may form if your home is not properly insulated. Clean your gutters. Leaves and other debris will prevent proper drainage and may cause ice dams to form.

3. If exposed water pipes are in use outside, bury or insulate them to protect them from freezing and bursting. If not in use, drain and clear sprinkler systems or outside pipes and hoses and remember to shut off valves to outside lines.

4. If pipes do freeze, never try to thaw a pipe with an open flame or torch.

5. Know how to shut off your water valves. Keep a wrench near the valves.

6. Replace batteries in smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. Make it part of your annual routine to replace the batteries when you set your clocks back in the fall.

7. As snow and ice melt, the risk of flooding increases. Prepare ahead of time to prevent basement leaks or deal with accumulated water.

8. If possible, arrange and connect electric lights and holiday decorations before the first snow arrives. It is safer to use ladders and electricity before snow and ice are present.