Winterization: Two Things Your REALTOR® Wants You To Know

As temps start to get colder, it's important to ensure your home is ready for winter so you can stay as warm and dry as possible, avoid any preventable expenses, and protect one of your greatest investments–your home!

There are lots of great articles out there about winterizing your property, and generally preparing for the coming season. But as local homeowners ourselves, here are two things we specifically want to bring to your attention: freezing pipes and snow/ice treatment.

Avoiding frozen pipes

One of the biggest risks this season is frozen water lines. Besides being incredibly inconvenient (ask Jess sometime about that Christmas when her whole visiting family woke up to no water), frozen water lines have a nasty habit of bursting. This is generally even more inconvenient than simply frozen water lines, and can cause massive amounts of damage–especially if you’re out of town at the time and come home to an unwanted three-story water feature. 

A common culprit is external hose bibs. Pipes can freeze from the outside in.  Here is a short video showing you how to properly winterize this primary threat. 

If your house has a crawl space, ensure that any vents under the crawl space are closed for the winter. Cold air getting under the house can freeze pipes and drive up your utility bills.

If temps are below freezing for multiple days, it is also possible for the main water line to freeze in between your well (or municipal supplier) and the house. Moving water is more difficult to freeze, so just leave a faucet running a little bit if temps are really cold for an extended period (i.e. temps at night and during the day stay below freezing for 48+ hrs).

Snow/ice treatment

Here in the tri-state area, we’re just as likely to get freezing rain as actual snow, and safety should always be top priority. That being said, it's shockingly easy to cause long term damage to your property while trying to mitigate slippery risks. Here’s a few considerations.

Salt and many deicers can eat away at concrete, patio pavers etc. So before throwing down crystals willy-nilly, check to see if your product is safe for use on the intended surface. Sometimes products will specifically say, “safe for concrete” etc. Other times, you might need to do a little googling to be sure.

Be careful with metal tools. Avoid using hammers or pick-axe style implements. Metal shovels can also cause pretty heavy scratches and gouges on concrete, asphalt, and pavers, so use them with caution. 

If you are using larger machines (snow blowers, plows etc), be mindful of curbs, mailboxes, and the house exterior. Putting up some reflective poles before snowfall is a great idea. Pro-tip, it’s easier to put in stakes before the ground freezes. 

If you’re in an HOA, the HOA may or may not be responsible for the sidewalks. Reach out to your HOA representative or check the HOA bylaws or handbook to be sure. Ditto for alleyways and streets. For example, in Huntfield, one of the largest neighborhoods in Charles Town, the HOA is responsible for alleyways, the city is responsible for main streets, and the developer is responsible for areas not yet turned over to the city!

One of the great things about this area is we typically get a nice sampling of each season. Whether you’re living your best life in a West Virginia winter wonderland, or fending off cabin fever till spring, we hope you and your home stay safe and warm in the coming months.