Nobody here in New England wants to admit it, but the winter temps and precipitation is on its way. That means snow, ice, and below freezing temperatures for the next few months. Maybe even a nor’easter for good measure too! Are you ready for whatever Mother Nature can throw our way? Here is a quick guide of ways to prep in your community for the colder months that lay ahead.
Interior Unit Preparations
If you are a condo unit owner, there’s really not a whole lot you can do to prepare the outside of your home. That job usually falls to the organization hired by your condo HOA board.
There are, however, a few steps you can take to ready your condo’s interior for the winter weather. Start by making sure your windows are sealed properly. Add caulking where necessary and maybe even invest in thermal window shades that can keep pesky drafts out.
If dipping temperatures are a problem, try using a programmable thermostat that can have your unit nice and warm by the time you get home from work, and automatically adjust it back down during the hours you are out and about. If temperatures are a problem in your building, you may also want to protect your pipes on exterior facing walls as they can freeze and burst in the sub zero temps.
In addition to taking steps to protect your condo unit from temperature fluctuations, you may also want to check the batteries in your smoke detector and carbon monoxide alerting system. The start of winter is a great time to check both of these as blowing and drifting snow can cause a blocking of exhaust pipes, a potential catastrophe in the making.
While you are checking your monitoring systems, also take a close look at the lint trap in your dryer if you have one within the unit. A good clean out is a great way to avoid any fire risk associated with combustible lint inside a dryer.
Outside Winterizing
Usually the winterizing on the outside of a building is handled by the homeowners association, (often a 3rd party vendor) who handles things such as: plowing and shoveling, roof repair, and landscaping.
Winter tasks such as plowing and shoveling hardscape areas falls to the landscaping team and the HOA board. Treating walkways with de-icers is also a main task of the board who is responsible for the safety of its community members both on walkways and on the driveway surfaces.
Clearing rooftops or decks that are at the mercy of the elements and winter precipitation may also fall in the category of responsibilities taken care of by the HOA. Read the bylaws about how often these areas will be cleared of snow or winterized for the season.
Your property management team should be able to communicate with your condo community regarding a checklist of tasks that you may want to complete before the weather turns even colder, while they take care of exterior chores.
Schedule Snow Clearing Contractors Early
Living in this corner of the world there is no question about whether there will be snow every winter, it’s just a matter of when the snow will happen rather than “if.”
Knowing this, it’s smart to schedule out contractors that will plow your driveways, shovel your walkways and use de-icing components on those well in advance of the first snowfall. If you use the same contractor each year, it may be necessary to review your contract and ensure that your property is top on the priority list as a loyal customer.
Pro Tip – When interviewing contractors find out how early they can be at your property after a snowfall and if they will come back for a clean-up later in the day. This is especially important to residents who need the area plowed early to get out to work and will expect that their parking spot will be cleared upon their return.
Take Steps to Prevent Fires
The start of winter also marks the start of the fireplace and wood-burning stove season as well. Additionally, it signifies a time of year when candles are burned and holiday decor may be overloading outlets. All of these are potential fire hazards in the making.
As a property manager, it’s a good idea to remind your residents about proper fireplace use and wood stove use. Add in recommendations about the amount of lighting for decor per outlet and common sense reminders about candle use during this season.
Pro Tip – Require that homeowners or residents have a professional chimney cleaning every year to avoid creosote build-up in the venting of their wood stove or fireplace. Additionally, have all residents check all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to ensure they are in good working order.
Be Vigilant of Winter Risks
Winter may be a welcome season for some, but property managers know that things like ice dams on roofs, frozen pipes, and malfunctioning furnaces can be real issues during the cold winter months.
Take steps early in the season to have the furnace tuned or inspected for potential issues. A roof inspection and attic inspection of insulation can help prevent ice dams, and keeping thermostats at a constant temp can help avoid frozen pipes. A little vigilance can go a long way to lessen these winter risks.
Pro Tip – Remind residents that during the coldest nights keep cabinets open to allow kitchen pipes to absorb heat and, if necessary, allow faucets to drip water so that freezing does not occur.
Does your property have winter issues to stay on top of? Let our team at Thayer & Associates help out. Talk to our team today.