As
winter weather is again approaching with sub-freezing temperatures predicted
for much of December, we wanted to advise you of some precautions to take to
prevent pipes from bursting and other potential hazards.
Ghertner
& Company’s Homeowner Service Center is available to help you should you
need assistance during office hours of Monday-Friday from 8:00 am until 4:30
pm, and can be reached at 615-277-0358. Our 24 hour emergency number is 615-255-4736.
If
you live in a condominium or town-home community, know who your neighbors are
that live next door, and above or below you.
Share your contact information with them and ask for their contact
information in case of an emergency due to a busted water line, etc. Also, check your unit’s insurance policy, so
you know what is covered, and the amount of any deductibles. Your association’s policy also has a
deductible, and you may be responsible for anything below that amount.
If
your Association has parking areas, roads, or common walking areas salted, be
aware that when the temperature reaches a certain point salting does not work. Please take precautions if you are walking
around the community.
Below
are several helpful suggestions to help you prepare for dangerously cold
weather:
Keep your
pipes from freezing
Take
precautions now to ensure your home is ready for the extreme cold
temperatures. When the mercury dips well below freezing, pipes can
freeze under your home.
Ø Make sure all your
foundation vents are closed, so cold air is not getting in.
Ø Make sure your crawl space
door is closed and sealed properly. The main thing is keeping the wind out from
under your house.
Ø In order to keep your
water pipes from freezing, allow a steady drip of water from an interior sink
to drip while the outside temperature is sub-freezing approaching zero degrees.
Ø Unhook garden hoses from
spigots and cover exterior faucets with insulating material to prevent freezing
Ø Know where the main water
shut-off is located in your home in the event of a broken pipe so the water can
be shut off to minimize damage.
Ø If your outside lawn &
landscape irrigation system has not been winterized, know where the shut off
valve is for that system in case a broken irrigation pipe occurs.
Other
precautions and considerations
Ø Avoid body exposure to
prevent frostbite and hypothermia
Ø Use electric heaters
carefully so as to avoid any combustible materials within 3-4 foot radius; use
only electric heaters with an automatic shut-off
Ø Indoor gas, propane,
kerosene space heaters can be deadly if not completed vented and monitored
continuously; heaters not used and tested for some time should not be used
until safety is confirmed; Carbon monoxide poisoning from improperly or
unvented space heaters is extremely dangerous. If any feeling of
confusion, dizziness, or nausea occurs while using a vented heater, shut it off
and seek immediate fresh air.
Protect
animals from life-threatening cold
Keep
pets inside. If animals can't be inside, provide a warm, comfortable
place. Face shelter away from wind and provide a flap or door to help
keep the animal's body heat inside.