Brrrr….Are you ready for the Cold Temperatures?

December snow in Houston, Christmas blizzard in the East and now another burst of Arctic air will blow in at the end of the week. Is your home ready for the freezing temperatures? There are several things you can do to your home that will help you stay warm and keep from having a costly cold weather disaster.

The standard wrapping of your home’s pipes is a must do in preparation for cold weather. There is pipe fitting foam that is available at your nearby home improvement store. Marlin Home Inspections owner, Mitch Rembert says...

“Wrapping pipes now will help avoid a major pipe burst disaster in your home…which can be costly”. When the temps drop below freezing for an extended amount of time, water will freeze. Once the water freezes it will expand causing the pipe to have pressure and a possibility of bursting”

Homeowners can use newspapers and plastics as an alternative source of insulation for wrapping pipes.

Proper insulation to your home will help keep cold temps out and warm temps inside. Caulking and weather stripping doors and windows are some of the short term quick fixes a homeowner can do. Long term will include proper attic insulation and installing storm windows.

“Plastic and tape will help provide a quick fix on a low budget to some of your minor insulation problems” suggests Rembert.

Another tip to help the “pipes” make it through the frigid night is to keep the faucet at a slow drip. This will allow the water to keep running at a low pressure. In older homes, keeping the kitchen cabinet doors open help provide warmth to the pipes.

Most important be safe and check on your neighbors. People, pets, plants and pipes is a good motto when thinking of the cold temperature preps. Stay warm!!

For home inspections go to http://www.marlinhomeinspections.com/