If you’re in the Washington, D.C., region, you’ve been walloped by inches upon inches of snow. Of course, you know you’ve got to shovel the drive and clear the walkways, but what else should you do to protect your property from the ravages of the white stuff?
- Gas meters – Clear the snow away from your gas meter (it can freeze and then you’ll be without gas for heat).
- Exhaust pipes – Keep all the PVC discharge pipes for gas appliances (water heaters and furnaces) clear from snow.
- Heat pump outdoor units – The snow should be cleared around all four sides, leaving about a foot of space from the snow piles. This is to allow the units to continue to draw air and the overall system to function.
- Falling gutters – Some homeowners are reporting that the tremendous volumes of snow are wreaking havoc on gutters. Unless you have a snow rake to dislodge the snow, there is not much you can do in the midst of a storm to prevent ice damming and gutter stoppages. When the snow stops falling, safely remove any broken materials and wait for the snow to clear and a repair to take place.
- Treating pathways – If you use salt to melt ice on concrete or flagstone, wash it away as soon as is reasonably possibly. Salt erodes mortar joints and can dislodge your pavers. Try to treat walks with non-salt materials, like sand or other noncorrosive products.
- Heat loss – If you’ve lost heat, drain your water down so your pipes don’t freeze and protect yourself from carbon monoxide. Report the outages to the power company (don't assume they know every outage) and find a place to keep warm until power is restored.
Here are a few more resources from regional government agencies on dealing with the snow:
- DC Department of Transportation Snow and Ice Control
- MD Snow Emergency Plan and Maryland Emergency Alerts
- VA Department of Emergency Management.
Contact Goldsborough Design Build if you need help in the aftermath of the storm and stay safe!