North Georgia winters are usually mild, but one hard freeze, ice storm, or windy night can do real damage to a house, a barn, or a car. A few hours of preparation now can save you a lot of trouble later. Here's a simple checklist from our team in Clarkesville.
Protect your pipes
Frozen pipes are one of the most common and costly winter problems in our area.
- Insulate exposed pipes in crawl spaces, attics, exterior walls, and well houses.
- On hard-freeze nights, let faucets on outside walls drip and open the cabinet doors under sinks.
- Disconnect garden hoses and cover outdoor spigots.
- Make sure everyone in the house knows where the main water shut-off is.
- If you'll be away, keep the heat on, and ask someone to check on the house.
Heat your home safely
- Have your chimney and wood stove inspected and cleaned before regular use.
- Keep space heaters at least three feet from anything that can burn, and turn them off when you leave the room.
- Test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and replace the batteries.
- Put fireplace and stove ashes in a metal container with a lid, and keep it outside, away from the house.
Get ready for ice, wind, and power outages
- Trim limbs that hang over your roof, driveway, or power lines.
- Clean gutters so melting snow and ice can drain.
- If you use a generator, run it outdoors only, well away from windows, doors, and the garage.
- Keep flashlights, batteries, water, and a few days of food on hand.
On the farm
- Check stock-tank heaters and de-icers, and protect their cords from animals and wear.
- Secure heat lamps in barns and coops; they are a common cause of barn fires.
- Store fuel safely, away from hay and livestock.
- Walk fence lines after storms, and make sure livestock have shelter from wind.
On the road
- Check tires, wipers, washer fluid, and your battery before the first cold snap.
- Keep a winter kit in the car: blanket, flashlight, phone charger, water, and snacks.
- Watch for black ice on bridges, shaded curves, and mountain roads, especially early in the morning.
Take a few minutes to review your coverage
Winter is a good time to make sure your insurance still fits your life. Take photos or a short video of each room for a home inventory, and know your deductibles. What a policy covers for things like frozen pipes, water damage, or a fallen tree depends on the policy itself, so if you're not sure, ask us. We're happy to walk through it with you.
Questions? Call us at (706) 776-9010, stop by 562 Washington St. in Clarkesville, or get a free quote.