IBHS News Releases

Tampa – Freezing weather can lead to ice dams and bursting pipes: costly problems for homeowners.  But trying to stay warm, especially when heating costs could rise, may have people looking to alternative sources, which could be a safety threat. 

The Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) offers the following tips to protect your home and family this winter.

Outside the Home
Make sure gutters and drains in basement stairwells are clear of leaves and window wells are working properly.

Check the weather stripping around skylights and other roof openings.

Seal cracks and holes in outside walls and foundations near water pipes with caulking.

Remove garden hoses from outside spigots.  Drain outdoor faucets when freezing temperatures are forecast.

Inside the Home
To prevent ice dams, make sure the attic is well insulated and no more than 10 degrees warmer than the outside air.  Heat escaping through the roof will melt snow, which could refreeze at the roof’s edge and force water under the roof covering, damaging the attic and walls of a home.

Maintain heat levels inside the home.  Temperatures lower than 65 degrees could allow pipes inside walls (where it’s colder) to freeze. Insulating pipes, crawl spaces and basements will help.

If temperatures are below freezing and water pressure is low, let water drip through faucets to reduce pressure in pipes, and open cabinets to let heated air flow beneath sinks.

Make sure everyone in the home knows how to shut off the main water supply.  If a pipe bursts, turning off the water quickly will help minimize damage. 

Safe Heating
To avoid a fire, leave at least three feet of open space around any heating appliance.

Be sure to turn off portable or space heaters before going to bed or leaving the home.

Do not use heaters that burn fuel such as kerosene inside. These types of appliances in closed places could start a fire and can also generate life-threatening carbon monoxide.

Install a carbon monoxide detector to alert you to any high concentrations of this deadly gas.

Always store combustible materials away from furnaces, fireplaces and portable heaters.
 
If you want to use a wood stove, it should meet current safety standards, be properly installed on a non-combustible base that can withstand intense heat, and the entire unit including stovepipe must be at least 36 inches from a wall or furniture.

Chimneys on wood stoves and fireplaces should be cleaned and inspected yearly. Be sure to remove the ashes using a metal container — never use a cardboard box or plastic pail.

Test your smoke alarms once a month, following the manufacturer's instructions.

Replace the batteries in your smoke alarm once a year, or as soon as the alarm "chirps" warning that the battery is low. Hint: schedule battery replacements for the same day you change your clocks from daylight saving time to standard time in the fall.

For more information on fire safety, visit the National Fire Protection Association web site.

For more information on weather related hazards and protection, visit the appropriate section of this site.

IBHS is a national nonprofit initiative of the insurance industry to reduce deaths, injuries, property damage, economic losses and human suffering caused by natural disasters.