Tips For Staying Safe During Winter Home Maintenance

As a homeowner, exterior home maintenance is critical for keeping your family safe and warm during the winter. But while your winter maintenance tasks may seem lengthy this time of year, they can be difficult to avoid.

But you can avoid injuries while working outside

With the right winter maintenance practices, you can avoid slips, falls, and other accidents while performing these tasks outdoors. To get you started, follow these simple tips when keeping your house in good condition this season.

Wear the right clothing.

Even if you are heading outside to quickly shovel the front steps or change a lightbulb, be sure to bundle up. This includes wearing the right jacket, gloves, and boots. By doing so, you can protect yourself from the cold and from dangerous falls.

Stay off of your roof.

Most roofs need to be inspected twice per year, but winter is likely not the time to do so. If you do have a problem with your roof, call a roofing professional. There is no need to put yourself at risk by climbing a ladder in this weather.

Invest in a snow blower.

Shoveling heavy snow can put you at risk for muscle strain and injuries. If you have a large driveway especially, consider purchasing a snow blower for bigger jobs. This will shorten your time out in the cold and help you avoid injury.

Don’t mess with icicles.

Icicles are heavy and sharp, and they can cause serious injury if they fall on you. So, avoid hacking away at pesky icicles with your snow shovel. If your home does have excess icicles, you might have a problem with your heating or insulation, so take steps to avoid this problem first.

Work in a pair.

While checking off your list of winter maintenance tasks, ask your partner, friend, or neighbor to lend a hand. By working in pairs, you can help each other spot hazards and react in an emergency. You can also get jobs done more efficiently and swap maintenance knowledge.

If you do sustain an injury while working outside this season, get to your nearest urgent care clinic as soon as possible. Most centers are open until 7 p.m. or later on weeknights and two out of five are open until 9 p.m. or later. Take these injuries seriously so you can recover as quickly as possible.

Winter weather comes with maintenance risks, but remember that you do not need to address all of them yourself. Often it is best to hire a professional, since they are trained to work in winter weather safely. Prevention is the best way to keep yourself safe this winter, so be sure to work smart and delegate.