How to Prepare for NYC’s First Big Snowstorm of the Season

November 14, 2023 by

As winter approaches, the anticipation of New York City’s first significant snowstorm of the season brings both excitement and the need for important preparation. The city that never sleeps will soon transform into a winter wonderland, so now is the time to make plans for navigating the snowy streets and ensuring the warmth and safety of your home. Keep reading to explore the essential steps necessary to prepare for the first big snowstorm of the season!

Stay Informed

Staying informed is the key to navigating New York City’s winter weather successfully. Keep an eye on reliable weather sources for up-to-date forecasts. Whether it’s road closures, transit changes, or important updates, knowing what’s coming your way helps you plan ahead and adapt to changing conditions. Enroll in the Notify NYC alert system, which is New York City’s official source for information about emergency alerts and important city services. You can receive alerts through email, text, telephone, or social media.

Stock Up

Being prepared by stocking up on essentials before the first snowflake falls is the best defense for whatever winter throws your way. Having the essentials listed below already on hand can ease your mind during a snowstorm. 

  • Fill a winter emergency kit with a 72-hour supply of food, water, medications, and other essentials for each family member and all pets. Be sure your emergency kit also includes first-aid supplies, flashlights, batteries, a whistle to signal for help, and copies of important family documents. 
  • Arm yourself with rock salt, shovels, and other snow removal gear to keep the pathways around your home clear.
  • Stay warm and cozy this winter by stocking up on warm clothing, snow boots, hand warmers, and blankets.
  • Keep a couple of portable battery banks regularly charged that can support your mobile phones and any other important electronic equipment during a winter storm power outage.

Prepare Your Home

  • Keep that winter chill on the outside by sealing cracks and insulating windows, doors, attics. A cozy home starts with blocking out the cold drafts.
  • Regular maintenance is essential for keeping your HVAC running as efficiently as possible. Servicing the system now can help provide warmth all winter long.
  • Before winter storms approach, remove any dangerous or dangling tree branches over your house. Branches that are loaded with snow and ice can easily break causing damage to your roof.
  • Pipes can crack and burst when cold temperatures cause the water inside to freeze. Protect outdoor water spigots by disconnecting all garden hoses. If possible, shut off the water supply for external spigots and drain any remaining water. Place an insulated dome around each spigot for further protection. On extremely cold nights, maintain a slow drip to alleviate pressure in the water system, reducing the likelihood of pipe rupture if freezing occurs. The best faucet to leave dripping is the one that is the furthest away from the main pipeline that brings water into your house, allowing more pipes to receive the benefit of the drip.

Make Transportation Plans

If you can, steer clear of driving in a winter snowstorm. Opt for public transportation for a safer journey. If driving is unavoidable, follow the safety tips below. 

  • Make sure to slow down. Keep in mind that speed limits are designed for ideal weather conditions, and it takes longer for vehicles to stop on snowy and icy roads compared to dry pavement. 
  • Stick to major streets or highways whenever you can. 
  • While four-wheel drive vehicles might handle snow-covered roads better, they don’t stop any quicker than other vehicles. 
  • Familiarize yourself with your vehicle’s braking system, especially if you have antilock brakes, as they require a different technique in icy or snowy conditions. 
  • When navigating a snowstorm, choose daylight hours for travel and let someone know your plans.

At Sentry Window Guards we make it our mission to help keep families safe. By staying informed about weather conditions, stocking up on winter and emergency supplies, preparing your home, and adopting safe driving practices, you can navigate the challenges of New York City’s first winter snowstorm with confidence! For more information regarding our window guard products and our experience and leadership in understanding NYC safety requirements, contact us today!

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7 Home Improvement Projects to Tackle This Winter

January 18, 2023 by

It is never a bad idea or a bad time to invest in your New York home and capitalize on the long term benefits of home improvement, even in winter! Take time to make updates now so you can spend more time enjoying your home when warmer weather arrives.  All of the improvements listed below can be done in just one weekend. 

  1. Installing a Smart Thermostat – If your current thermostat is manual you may be spending a lot of time adjusting the temperature to balance comfort and energy efficiency. A smart thermostat allows you to see how much energy you’re actively using. Many smart thermostats also supply tools that allow you to plot out how much more you can save if you adjust the temperature by a few degrees here or there.
  2. Upgrade Your Doors – If you are looking for a quick and easy update to your home, why not start with the front door? A new front entry door will add to the beauty of your home, reduce utility bills, and the project can be completed in an afternoon. 
  3. Freshen Up With Paint – Painting is an easy, cost-effective way to completely transform the look of your home. Choosing lighter colors will make your home seem larger, cleaner, and more appealing. If your walls are still in pretty good shape, washing them can give the same desired look.
  4. Update the Fixtures – Making updates in light fixtures, bathroom fixtures, kitchen fixtures, door knobs, or cabinet hardware can make a huge difference. Fixtures go in and out of style pretty frequently and can easily make a beautiful home look dated. 
  5. Refresh the Cabinets – Kitchen and bathroom cabinets are highly visible because they are at eye level. For cabinets that are in good structural shape, a deep clean may be all that is needed to get them looking their best. If that fails, painting or refacing them is a much cheaper option than replacing them altogether.
  6. Add a Whole House Surge Protector – This device can protect the electronics in your whole home from voltage surges caused by lightning strikes or other electrical issues. It is especially important to protect high priced appliances with electronic circuit boards as these are costly to replace.
  7. Install Window Guards – Properly installed window guards are your best defense in preventing window falls. Window stops are also a very useful safety device. Some new windows come with window stops already installed to prevent the windows from opening more than 4 inches. If your windows don’t already have stops, they can be added to your frame. These devices will allow you to enjoy a fresh breeze while ensuring windows won’t open wide enough to invite a fall. 

Sentry Window Guards is your one-stop solution for window guards and window stops. From start to finish, our professionally trained staff can assist you in your window project. We can troubleshoot, measure, fabricate, supply, and install all within a 24 hour period. All Sentry powder coated window guard products are warranted for life against rust. Sentry is also capable of matching any color that isn’t part of our standard color selection. For more information regarding our products and how they keep everyone safe at home in NYC, contact us today!

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5 Tips for Frozen Pipe Prevention

January 11, 2021 by

The kind of extreme cold temperatures we see in NYC during the winter can put your home or business at risk for water damage caused by frozen pipes. As water freezes, it expands and puts pressure on pipes. Of course, when there is too much pressure, your pipes have a tendency to burst allowing water to come in and potentially flood your home or business. Even when heat is maintained at comfortable levels, pipes on outer walls can freeze during extreme weather. Many water meters and pipes are found in basements, crawl spaces, and other unheated areas, where cold winter temperatures could cause them to freeze. Thankfully, there are steps you can take to help prevent damage from frozen pipes. 

  • Protect outdoor water spigots by disconnecting all garden hoses from spigots. If possible, shut down the water supply for outside spigots and drain the remaining water. You can also place an insulated dome around each spigot for further protection.
  • Insulation is key. Be sure that all water supply lines in unheated areas are wrapped in insulation. Look for pipes needing extra insulation in the basement, crawl space, attic, garage, and under cabinets. Go one step further by adding insulation to your basement and attic to help maintain the temperature in these cooler areas.
  • Leave garage doors closed to increase warmth for any water supply lines found in the garage. Leave bathroom and kitchen cabinet doors open to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing.
  • A slow drip on the coldest nights will reduce pressure in the water system. This means that even if a pipe freezes, it will likely not rupture. The best faucet to leave dripping is the one that is the furthest away from the main pipeline that brings water into your house. This will allow more pipes to receive the benefit of the drip.
  • Even if you will be out of town, don’t set your heat to below 55 degrees at night. Heating your home or business when it is not occupied can be a little pricey, but the added expense on your heating bill is much less than the cost of a broken pipe repair. 

If your pipes or meter do freeze but are not at the point of bursting, there are a few steps you can take to remedy the situation. Turn on your faucet and apply heat to the frozen section of the pipe with a hair dryer or space heater. Never try to thaw a frozen pipe or meter with an open flame. As the pipe thaws, water should start to flow and come out of the faucet. Keep applying heat until the water pressure is back to normal. Check the all faucets in your home to make sure they are in working order. If you’re uncomfortable or unsure what to do, don’t hesitate to call a plumber.

At Sentry Window Guards we make it our mission to help keep families safe. We hope these tips will keep your home or business safe and warm this winter. For more information regarding our window guard products and our experience and leadership in understanding NYC safety requirements, contact us today!

Filed Under: Safety Tips, Winter Home Tips Tagged With:

4 Tips to Keep Your Pipes From Freezing This Winter

January 15, 2020 by

Having a busted frozen pipe in the middle of winter isn’t pleasant. Many don’t realize how much damage it can cause to a home. Here are 4 tips to take some preventative measures to help avoid a frozen pipe disaster this winter:

  1. FAUCETS: Let your faucets drip. The slow drip reduces the pressure in the water system. If a pipe freezes, it’s less likely to rupture when the pressure is lower. Especially focus on letting the faucet that is furthest away from the main pipeline drip because this line brings water into your house. More pipes will benefit from the main line being allowed to drip.
  1. OUTDOOR SPIGOTS: If you are in house, you should protect your outdoor spigots. Make sure all garden hoses are disconnected from outdoor spigots. Shut down the water supply to outside if possible and drain remaining water. Purchase inexpensive insulated domes to be placed around each spigot for optimum protection. If you are living in an apartment, you may want to confirm with your building manager that any outdoor spigots are protected.
  1. PIPES: Insulate pipes and exposed water supply lines. Look for pipes in unheated areas and those needing extra insulation such as in the basement, crawl space, attic, garage, and under cabinets. Again, if you are living in an apartment, check with your building manager.
  1. GARAGE: If you have a garage, close it! Keep water supply lines in the garage warmer by minimizing length of time the garage doors are open. Do the opposite with kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors. Leave them open to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing.

As the temperatures continue to drop, practice these 4 tips to help prevent frozen pipes and potential damage to your home. Even a small burst pipe can become costly. If you live in an apartment, check with your building manager to see what preventative measures they are taking to avoid a frozen pipe disaster.

At Sentry Window Guards we make it our mission to help keep families safe. While our business is to help prevent falls from windows, we also recognize the importance of avoiding a frozen pipe disaster this winter. For more information regarding our window guard products and our experience and leadership in understanding New York safety requirements, contact us today!

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Protect Your Family With These Furnace Maintenance Tips

December 15, 2019 by

Our number one priority at Sentry Window Guards is to keep children safe by preventing window fall accidents from occurring. Another danger that can occur in the home is deadly carbon monoxide leaks from your furnace. Here are a few DIY annual maintenance tips that will protect your family, prolong the life of your furnace and heating system, and save you some money on future repairs.

Prevent Deadly Carbon Monoxide Leaks!

  1. To get started, turn off power to the unit by switching off the circuit breaker or removing the fuse.
  2. Clean the blower fan, blades, and space in between with a toothbrush, duster and vacuum.
  3. Make sure the furnace motor is lubricated with oil once a year or more.
  4. Inspect and replace furnace air filters once a month. Depending on the filter, you will potentially spend less than $20 for a new air filter.
  5. Inspect the motor belts for tension and damage. It is in good shape if the belt is firm when pressed. Replace it if there are any cracks or damage and if it isn’t firm when pressed.
  6. Inspect duct joints for any leaks. Repair leaks by sealing them with metal tape.
  7. Make sure any outside vents and chimneys are clear of debris or snow blockage.
  8. If DIY isn’t your thing, shop around for a furnace and heating system professional for the best rate. Also, ask if they will analyze combustion gases and inspect wiring.

Create memories safely with your family in comfort this winter with a well-maintained furnace and heating system. By being proactive, you can keep your furnace running efficiently all year and protect your family from deadly carbon monoxide leaks. For more information regarding our window guard products and our experience and leadership in understanding NYC safety requirements, contact us today!

 

 

Filed Under: Child Safety, Safety Tips, Winter Home Tips Tagged With: , ,
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