Preparing for Winter

Fall is the perfect time to get ready for winter weather, including preparing for storms. Extreme cold is always a possibility in the Pacific Northwest, so your ABI Personal Lines Insurance Specialists have compiled tips to help you get ready for the season.

Preparing your home

Before wintry weather arrives, drain water sprinkler and swimming pool supply lines, and remove, drain, and store outdoor hoses. If possible, close inside valves supplying outdoor hose bibs, and open the outside hose bibs for draining. Keep them open so any remaining water can expand without breaking the pipe. If you can’t shut off the water from the inside, cover faucets with foam faucet covers.
Perform basic winter maintenance — insulate your walls and attic, caulk and weather-strip doors and windows, and insulate water lines that run along outer walls. Remove debris from gutters.
Protect pipes — during severe cold spells, you may want to leave all faucets, both hot and cold, running at a slight trickle. Open cabinet doors under sinks to allow warmer air to circulate.
Keep your home warm to help protect the pipes — maintain an interior temperature of at least 55 degrees Fahrenheit, even when you’re sleeping or not at home. Seal any drafts and leave interior doors open to help keep an even temperature from room to room.
If the pipes freeze, call a professional. Frozen water in pipes can cause them to burst, meaning you’ll have a mess on your hands once that water thaws. Act quickly to shut off your main water supply and call in a licensed plumber to assess the situation.
If you use a fireplace or wood stove, have the chimney or flue inspected each year. Make sure your house has working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and test them monthly.
Check your emergency supplies and ensure you have adequate food and water, prescription medications, a flashlight with extra batteries along with a battery-powered radio, in the event of an extended power outage. You’ll want a week’s worth of supplies, or more, if you live in a remote area.
Consider purchasing a portable power bank or charger for your cell phone. Make sure both your cell phone and charger are fully charged in case of a power outage.
Never use generators or barbecue grills indoors. These appliances can allow deadly carbon monoxide to build up.
Think ahead about the needs of your pets in your emergency preparations. Gather food, water, and pet medications, if necessary.

Preparing your car

Have your vehicle serviced according to manufacturer recommendations. Check the antifreeze level.
Make sure your tires are in good shape and properly inflated based on the manufacturer’s recommendation.
Keep the gas tank near full, which helps avoid ice in the fuel lines and the gas tank itself.
Replace wiper fluid with a wintertime mixture.
Check to confirm your battery has a good charge, your heater and defroster are working well, and the emergency lights are functional.
Pack an emergency kit including a flashlight, protein bars and water, toilet paper, an emergency blanket, roadside visibility reflectors, a snow brush and ice scraper, jumper cables, and a bag of sand to help with traction.

Preparing yourself

Always wear temperature-appropriate clothing, such as hats, gloves, scarves, etc., especially when outside. Remove any wet clothing immediately. Keep spare clothing in your car throughout the winter in case you are stranded or stuck.
Stay hydrated. You might think this is more important when it’s warm outside, but it’s just as vital in winter.
Be mindful of physical exertion and the amount of time you’re spending outdoors.
Shoveling snow is hard work.

With trips to the snow or a wintertime resort, winter can be packed with fun. Prepare your house, car, and self for seasonal adventures and have a great season!

Your ABI Personal Lines Insurance Specialist can work with you to make sure you have the coverage you need for all seasons. Give us a call, 503-292-1580.

Content provided by Safeco Insurance.