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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Shielding Your NYC Home: 6 Essential Strategies to Prevent Frozen Pipes

January 8, 2023 by

Winter in New York City can mean more than just chilly winds; it can bring a real threat to your residential homes and commercial establishments in the form of frozen pipes. The low temperatures can wreak havoc on your plumbing, leading to potential water damage if pipes burst. This risk intensifies, especially for those living in outer-wall residences or spaces with unheated areas like basements and crawl spaces where pipes and meters are often located.

However, there are specific steps New Yorkers can take to combat this risk:

1) Smart Thermostat Control: Invest in a smart thermostat that allows remote monitoring and control of your home or business temperature. These devices enable you to adjust the heating system even when you’re away, ensuring a consistent temperature level to prevent frozen pipes. Some smart thermostats also offer freeze warnings, alerting you if temperatures drop dangerously low so you can take action promptly.

2) Secure Outdoor Spigots: Disconnect garden hoses and shut down the water supply for outside spigots. Adding insulated domes provides extra protection.

3) Insulate Vulnerable Areas: Wrap all water supply lines in unheated areas with insulation. Check basements, crawl spaces, attics, garages, and under cabinets for pipes needing extra protection. Consider adding insulation to these areas to maintain a more stable temperature.

4) Maintain Temperature: Keep garage doors closed to retain warmth around water supply lines. Additionally, leave cabinet doors in bathrooms and kitchens open to allow warmer air circulation around the plumbing.

5) Allow a Slow Drip: On the coldest nights, let a faucet drip slowly. This helps reduce pressure in the water system and lowers the risk of pipes rupturing. Choose the faucet farthest from the main water pipeline to benefit more pipes.

6) Moderate Heating: Even if you’re away, don’t set the heat below 55 degrees Fahrenheit. While heating an unoccupied space might hike up your bill, it’s far less costly than repairing a broken pipe.

New York City residents should also be aware of what to do if pipes freeze but haven’t burst. Turning on faucets and using a hair dryer or space heater to thaw the frozen section safely can restore water flow. Avoid using open flames to thaw pipes. If unsure, it’s wise to call a plumber rather than attempting fixes alone.

For Sentry Window Guards, ensuring safety this winter is a top priority. We hope these helpful tips help keep your New York City home and business safe and cozy this winter. Reach out to us for more information on our window guard products and our expertise in understanding NYC safety requirements.

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Don’t Let Winter Home Damage Sneak Up On You

February 22, 2022 by

Winter in NYC can be extreme. Mother Nature definitely plays by her own rules and there is no way to predict the effects of winter weather in our area. Freezing cold temperatures, ice, and snow during the winter can put your home or business at risk for damage. 

Here are some things to watch out for this winter:

  • Frozen Pipes – Pipes can crack and burst when cold temperatures cause the water inside to freeze. 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. 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.
  • Roof Damage – There are several ways your roof can be damaged during the winter so keep a close eye on it. Watch out for high winds from winter storms that can loosen shingles. Ice dams can cause water to permeate into your home. And worst of all, the weight of heavy snow and ice can cause your roof to collapse. Use proper insulation in the attic to keep the temperatures regulated. Also, make sure your roof vents and other forms of ventilation are in good condition and are not blocked by insulation or other items in your attic. To prevent the buildup of snow and ice, use a roof rake with a telescoping handle.
  • Driveway or Sidewalk Damage –  It is important to keep your sidewalks and driveway clear of ice and snow to prevent slip and falls, but the question is how to do that without damaging the concrete. Of all the common de-icers on the market, tests have shown that calcium chloride is the least harmful to concrete. But it is corrosive to metal and can be damaging to plants if over applied so use caution. Magnesium chloride, a similar compound, absorbs moisture, is less corrosive and safer on concrete and plants, and is becoming more readily available.
  • Fire Damage – Many home heating fires occur every winter in NYC. To prevent fires, have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected each year. Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from all heating equipment. This includes furnaces, fireplaces, wood stoves, and portable space heaters. Always use a fire screen or fireplace doors to contain sparks from your fireplace. While asleep or when you leave home, extinguish all fires and unplug all heating appliances.
  • Damage Caused by Trees – Before winter storms approach, remove any dangerous or dangling tree branches near your home. Branches that are loaded with snow and ice can easily break causing damage.

At Sentry Window Guards we make it our mission to help keep families safe. We hope these tips will keep your home 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: Winter Home Tips

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!

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