How To Prepare Your Home For An Iowa Snowstorm

When many people think of Iowa, they picture snowstorms and ice. That’s understandable. For part of the year at least, Iowa can experience significant snowfall. As a homeowner, you should get your home ready for when harsh weather hits.

How you prepare is key to weathering a snow storm safely and comfortably. It’s always smart to make sure you have emergency supplies stored, such as food, liquids, flashlights and blankets on hand. You also want to make sure to get the outside of your home ready before the storm hits. Here are some tips on how to prepare your home for future winter storms.

Make sure your attic has enough insulation and ventilation.

It’s important to consider attic insulation and ventilation when protecting your home from winter weather. Without enough of both, it can result in ice dams forming on your roof which can threaten the integrity of your roof, attic space, and overall house structure. Proper attic insulation helps keep excess heat from melting snow that then refreezes, leading to a buildup of dams. Adequate attic ventilation, meanwhile, helps regulate attic temperatures and airflow for a more balanced atmosphere. Both are necessary to maintain a safe roof during the winter season.

Cover your windows.

To help keep your home warm during a snow storm, it’s important to cover your windows. This can be done with heavy curtains or blinds, or even by taped-up newspapers or blankets. Doing this will help to insulate your home and keep the heat from escaping.

Protect your pipes.

Frozen pipes are a common problem during winter weather, so it’s important to take steps to prevent them. Insulate any exposed pipes, and let a trickle of water run from your faucets during the storm to keep them from freezing.

Cut tree branches close to your house.

One of the most important steps is to cut tree branches that are close to your home. Without doing this, strong winter winds could push these branches onto your roof, windows or siding, resulting in costly winter storm damage. It’s always a good idea to inspect nearby trees before winter and trim any branches that may be too close to your house. Doing so could save you significant time and money in repairs later on.

Keep gutters free of clogs.

Clogged gutters can be a huge issue in winter weather. As temperatures begin to drop and snowfall increases, clogged gutters can prevent melting snow from draining properly or cause water to accumulate on the roof and freeze, leading to flooding and other costly damage. To prevent this from happening, it’s important to keep your gutters free of clogs by frequently removing debris such as fallen leaves or branches that may clog it.

Should you find yourself with storm damage this winter, contact us for a free, no obligation storm damage inspection.