5 tips to Winterizing a Southern Home

Compared to some of the states up north, Tennessee doesn't have a lot of cold winter weather to speak of. We don't have blizzards, if it snows it usually melts off the next day, and nobody I know (who is native to the south) has ever owned a snow shovel. However, despite our mild weather, there are 5 important things home owners should do to "winterize" their homes.

Make sure hoses are disconnected from outdoor faucets - this is one of the most important things to remember. Although we don't get a lot of freezing temperatures, we do have enough to cause busted pipes. My sister recently made this mistake. There was one night of below freezing temps, the next day she went out to water the dog and the hose had frozen causing water to leak into her newly built house. Luckily there was no permanent damage, but it could have causes need for major repairs.

Insulate exposed plumbing pipes

Secure crawlspace entrances - this not only helps prevent plumbing issues, but will also save you money by making your home more energy efficient.

Use weather stripping around exterior doors and caulk around windows.

If you go on vacation, set your thermostat to at least 55 degrees to prevent plumbing disasters.

There are many more things that can be done not only to protect your home from the winter, but also to save you money on your energy bills and save you from costly repairs. If you would like to know more please email dacia@exitdiverisified.com