NOVA Homes Blog: How to Protect Your Northern Virginia, DC Home From the Snow

Tuesday, January 26, 2016

How to Protect Your Northern Virginia, DC Home From the Snow

This weekend's historic blizzard dropped loads of snow onto many Northern Virginia and DC homeowner's rooftops. And while some were prepared for the storm, others were scrambling to de-ice sidewalks and driveways and protect pipes after the fact.

In a previous blog post, I shared a few tips for preparing your NoVA home for winter and now I'm happy to provide a few more suggestions to protect your property from the snow. The cold, winter conditions can wreak havoc on your home and it's important to take the following steps ahead of time:

Shut off outdoor faucets
Be sure to shut off inside valves for your outdoor faucets and unhook hoses. Any excess water left in the exterior faucets should be drained ahead of a snowfall in Alexandria, Arlington, Annandale, Fairfax, Falls Church or the surrounding communities. When the temperatures dip low, the pipes leading to these faucets are susceptible to damage, so you might also consider wrapping them in a towel for added insulation.

Protect indoor pipes
Cold air can also put your indoor pipes at risk of bursting. Open your cabinet doors under the sink to allow warm air from your home to circulate inside. If necessary, you can always turn up the heat inside your NoVA home to warm up the pipes.

Clean the gutters
Prior to a snowstorm, your gutters should be clear of any leaves as ice dams can form and flood your home.

Purchase salt and sand
Sprinkling salt or sand ahead of a snowfall can actually cut down on your shoveling time! A few hours before the snowfall, toss on walkways and driveways to be safe.

Check carbon monoxide detectors
Gas appliances and wood-burning fireplaces have the potential to produce carbon monoxide, so it is always wise to conduct a routine check of your detectors.

As your local Northern Virginia real estate expert, I am here to answer any questions you might have about buying or selling a home in the winter months—as well as year-round—so do not hesitate to contact me!

I happily serve the areas of Alexandria, Annandale, Arlington, Burke, Centreville, Chantilly, Clifton, Fairfax City, Falls Church, Great Falls, Herndon, Lake Ridge, McLean, Mount Vernon, Reston, Rosslyn, Springfield, Tyson’s Corner and Vienna.

Earle Whitmore

Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
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