Although it’s been an unusually warm winter for the Northeast, Mother Nature always seems to find a way to give us the chills this time of year.  Below are a few tips on what you can do to help winterize your home and business.             

A little time spent now is better then the time and expense spent later:

• Clean out your gutters.  By removing debris from your downspouts, melting snow and ice can flow freely and has less of a tendency to form an ice dam.  Ice damming occurs when water is unable to drain through the gutters and instead seeps into the house causing water to drip from the ceiling and walls.
• Keep the house warm.  Set the thermostat to 65 degrees, even when you’re not home.  This will keep the pipes from freezing and exploding inside the walls - causing major damage.
• Trim trees and take down dead branches.  Wind, ice and snow can cause weak trees or branches to break and cause damage to your house. 
• Seal cracks and holes in foundations and outside walls to prevent snow from melting in. Caulking and weather stripping are inexpensive and can be found at any hardware store. 
• Have your heating system serviced at least once a year.  This helps prevent fire and smoke damage
• Learn how to shut the water off and know where your pipes are located. Should your pipes freeze, time is of the essence.  The faster you’re able to shut off the water, the better your chances of preventing the pipes from bursting.

Protecting your house during the dreary winter months is even more important for the annual snowbirds.  Often times people will turn down the heat to save money on the electric bill, but this can cause big problems if they’re not careful.