Home Safety

Making The Most Of Cold And Snowy South Shore Days: Where To Sled and Skate

Winter 2024 Update: Check Out This New South Shore Skating Rink!

Since we wrote the blog post below, South Shore residents have had the good fortune to have a new place to skate outdoors in the Quincy Center ice skating rink located near General’s Bridge. Be sure to check it out with friends & family this winter!

As we write this post, it’s looking to be a cold weekend ahead here on Boston’s South Shore; plus, it’s only early February, which means there’s still likely going to be plenty of days ahead this year fit for outdoors ice skating and/or sledding.

The above inspired our South Shore roofing company to share our list of great places to skate or sled on the South Shore — the place our residential roofing contractors call home! Check out these places to “play” outdoors on South Shore winter days!

Where To Ice Skate On The South Shore (Outdoors)

Where To Sled On The South Shore

Be Safe When It Comes To Outdoors Ice Skating and Sledding

Inspired to head out for skating or sledding? Be sure your children bring and wear their helmets, thick gloves or mittens, and hats. And, make sure an adult will be accompanying and watching them throughout their skating or sledding activities! And, keep in mind that safety experts recommend that children sled feet-first!

If ice skating is in the plans for your South Shore winter play day, make sure an adult checks the ice before children skate on it. Ice that has open water patches is a “no go” for skating — it’s just not safe. Look for outdoors ice skating spots where ice has a dark blue color vs. white or grey, since dark blue ice is safer!

Lastly, be sure to pack some hot drinks, like hot cocoa, or hot cider, in thermoses to warm everyone up and keep them hydrated!

This is an illustrated, cartoon-like drawing showing a family enjoying a winter day sledding and skating outdoors. The image shows two boys who are sledding on a hill that is nearby a pond. One boy has fallen off his sled and is lying in the snow, but not hurt. Pictured on the pond ice skating are a mother with a boy and girl. This image is shared to support our south shore roofing contractors' blog post about great places to ice skate and sled on Boston's South Shore.

Play It Safe When It Comes To Your Home And Roof This Winter

And, speaking of both playing and staying safe, be sure to “play it safe” and hire an expert when snow and ice are causing, or have potential to cause, damage to your home or roof due to ice dams. As we explain in this blog post about ice dams, ice dams can damage your home. So, learn what they are and why you should hire professional roofers like South Shore Roofing to help you treat and remove them.

Our Team Of Roofing Experts Is Always Here To Help

Whether you need help because of winter weather’s impact on your home and roof, or you want to start planning for a new roof installation or roof replacement this spring, reach out to the team of roofing experts at South Shore roofing today!

Spring Cleaning Checklist For Your New England Home

The days are getting longer, the temperatures are slowly rising, and the first flowers will soon be poking their heads out of the ground. Yes, while it may feel impossible and long-overdue, as it does every year without fail, spring will soon have arrived in New England and on Boston’s South Shore!

Like January and September, spring is a time for new beginnings. It’s time to clean out the old and make way for the new! In this post, we’ll discuss everything you need to know about spring cleaning your house and your roof! So whether you’re a spring cleaning newbie and just learning the spring-cleaning ropes, or you’re looking for some extra tips related to your annual spring cleaning routine, read on!

Why Create and Follow A Spring Cleaning Checklist?

The best way to get your home clean for spring is by using a checklist. This will ensure that you don’t miss any essential areas and complete the job promptly (we’ve found having a checklist motivates one to complete tasks, so you receive the satisfaction of checking them off your list).

Whether you create and update your spring cleaning checklist via paper or an online document such as a Google sheet or Excel worksheet, some of the most common areas to focus on during home spring cleaning and incorporate in your checklist include:

  • Deep cleaning kitchens and pantries.
  • Giving all fixtures, surfaces, and objects in your home a good and thorough dusting
  • Scrubbing all bathroom surfaces from top to bottom
  • Cleaning all windows and windowsills – inside and out (depending on how far off the ground your windows are you may need to hire a professional window cleaner to do the outside work safely)
  • Cleaning your grout and tile, professionally, if possible, to preserve its longevity
  • Thoroughly dusting and washing baseboards and molding
  • Cleaning dirty spots off the wall and doorways and on or near light switch plates
  • Refreshing your entryway with new runners and welcome mats
  • Using touch-up paint where needed, or re-painting walls entirely
  • Cleaning your carpets and rugs with a carpet cleaner, or hiring a rug cleaning service
  • Inspecting the home for mold, cracks, and leaks. Learn why wet walls require immediate action.
  • This is also a great time for checking the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors, and replacing them, as needed.

Roof Spring Cleaning

Just as you need to clean your home in the spring, you also need to clean off your roof. This is especially important if you live in an area like Massachusetts that sees a lot of rain or snow. After all, the winter weather can do a lot of damage, and it’s important to get ahead of any potential problems. A dirty roof can lead to all sorts of issues, such as leaks and water damage.

There are many different things that you can do to get your South Shore roof ready for spring. However, here are a few of the most important ones:

  • Inspect the Roof for Damage: Take a look at your roof for any damage that may have occurred over the winter. We suggest you do this by looking up at your roof vs. climbing up on your roof – we don’t want anyone to slip or fall, unnecessarily. Sometimes, it means standing far back in your driveway or yard, so that you can look at your roof from a distance. If you notice an area of your roof that looks like it’s been damaged and needs fixing, give our South Shore roofing contractors a call and we can access whether you need our services related to residential roof repair or roof replacement. Check out these warning signs it may be time to replace your roof.
  • Clear Debris from Gutters: If you can do it safely yourself, make sure to clear out all the debris from your gutters. This will help ensure that rain water can flow freely and not cause any damage.

Need more spring cleaning ideas and inspiration? Check out last year’s spring cleaning hacks blog post: https://www.southshoreroofers.com/tag/spring-cleaning/

How Our South Shore Roofing Experts Can Help

Don’t risk getting up on your roof to try to mend yourself any damage that you may see. Both being up on the roof, and trying to fix the roof yourself, could lead to undesirable consequences. One of the professional roofers on the South Shore Roofing team can inspect the roof and determine what needs to be done to fix it. They can also provide advice on how to prevent future damage. If you’re looking for a reliable and experienced roofing company, be sure to contact South Shore Roofers! We have been providing quality roofing services for many years, and we’re seasoned roofing contractors who’ve helped many South Shore businesses and families get their home roof or business/commercial roof ready for spring. So, reach out today!

 

 

 

8 Steps To Keep Your Home and Family Merry & Safe This Winter and Holiday Season

Because of the restrictions and limitations that COVID19 placed on the 2020 holiday season, we’re all particularly excited about holiday home decorating safety celebrating the holidays in 2021, right? As South Shore roofing contractors, we’re seeing and hearing from local friends, family, and customers that they plan to go all out with holiday shopping, home get-togethers (even if they keep them small or stick to just family based on their pandemic comfort level), and decorating the inside and outside of their homes.

We think you’ll agree that, with all that “stepped-up” holiday activity, it’s more important than ever that we all do all we can to protect our South Shore homes and families, by putting the following measures in place:

Hanukkah Holiday SafetyThe team of roofing experts at our South Shore roofing company is always available to talk with you about any of the following & more!: attic ventilation, attic air circulation; roof moisture, wall moisture, or ceiling moisture; ice dam prevention, ice dam removal; new home roof installation; and home roof replacement. Never hesistate to reach out to see if we can be of service related to home safety measures or home challenges.

 

 

We wish all our readers a safe and happy holiday season and winter!

 

Why Your Attic and Roof May Be Wet On A Dry Winter Day

Often, during winter, homeowners are surprised to see water drips and droplets on attic ceilings, walls, and the underside of their roof, when it’s not even raining or snowing outside! As shown in the picture below, sometimes, it seems to those who own a home that their roof, wall, or ceilings are crying because of water droplets that appear around nails. After spending a lot of physical and emotional energy trying to figure out the source of the moisture, they end up calling professional roofing contractors, like South Shore Roofing, to investigate the source of wet wood in their home.

Many New England homeowners don’t realize that moisture can still build up in the top floor of their home or underneath their roof on cool, dry, winter days because of condensation challenges. Condensation occurs when attics are too warm and there’s no way for air to escape outdoors or to circulate. Sure, everyone would prefer that their attic feel warm & cozy when they need to visit it to bring down a treasured item that’s been tucked away in the attic. But, since most of us don’t spend a lot of time in our attics, and the trade-off of having a warm attic is the build-up of annoying and damaging moisture, we’re actually better off keeping our attics cool from home-damage, health, and cost perspectives.

How to Know If You Attic or Roof is Moisture-Challenged

In addition to beads of water on walls, ceilings, or your roof, you may notice these other common signs of a moist attic or roof:

  • Staining, discoloration or warping of wood or other attic materials
  • Foggy/frosty windows
  • Musty smells
  • Mold
  • Wood rot
  • Masonry deterioration

Why You Need to Address Attic and Roof Moisture

Left untreated, attic moisture can lead to some of the unpleasant, unfavorable conditions listed in the above-section of our blog. These can, in turn, lead to expensive, extensive home damage and associated repair costs, but most importantly, can make family members very ill.

How South Shore Roofing Experts Can Help

To prevent, moisture build-up and condensation, attic temperatures should be kept as cold as the outdoors. This can be accomplished simply through improved air ventilation and circulation in your attic – basically, you want air to be able to flow both in and out of your attic. Our team of roofing specialists can undertake the following to create better airflow, and ultimately, a colder atmosphere in your attic by installing:

  • Soffit vents underneath your gutters/in your attic’s eaves to let air flow into your attic.
  • Roof ventilation at the peak of your roof, known as a ridge vent or ridge venting, which allows air to flow out. This requires an opening to be cut across your roof’s peak to expose the attic below. A ridge vent is, then, placed over that opening to allow air to exit the attic.

Say Goodbye to Moisture, and Hello to a Healthier, Safer Home

Your family and your home are your most important assets. So if you believe your roof or attic are showing signs of moisture build-up, contact us today, so that our South Shore roofing company can assess your attic and roof situation.

 

 

What Home and Business Owners Need to Know About Missing Roof Shingles

As New Englanders, we’re no strangers to storms. Wind, rain, sleet and ice can all leave a roof looking a little under the weather. After a storm blows through, you might notice a few asphalt shingles missing from your roof. Or maybe there is no storm, but you own a beautiful older home and some of the shingles are damaged or badly worn. You don’t think it’s a big deal, but then you start wondering. Will my roof leak? It’s definitely possible!

It’s important to get missing shingles replaced as soon as possible to prevent further damage and expenses down the line. Being proactive with your roof repair will save you hundreds of dollars and bring you peace of mind.

Why, Generally, a Missing Shingle is Cause for Concern

When shingles are missing it allows the wind to get between the roof deck and roof shingles causing the “non-missing” ones to lift and come unsealed. There is a one in three chance that the missing shingle sat above an open seam between the shingles below. The standard 3-tab shingles are installed side-by-side with each new row of shingles covering the top of the layer below and the side seams.

Shingles are installed in layers to wick water away from the wood underneath. Each layer is composed of 3-shingle sections that are laid next to each other, end to end. When roofers add new layers of shingles during installation, they stagger the seams so water can’t get in. If a shingle above a seam tears off, water can flow into the newly unprotected gap between the lower shingles, leading to rotted plywood and roof leaks.

Sometimes your missing shingle doesn’t reveal a seam, but your roof may still be in danger of leaking. The upper portion of the shingle has less protective mineral granules than the bottom. These granules protect the shingle from the sun. When the upper portion of the shingle is exposed, the UV rays might cause it to decay and the rest of the shingles will follow suit. This will eventually lead to leaking, water damage, and mold. No matter their placement on the roof, all missing shingles can lead to roof leaks. Generally, it’s best to address these issues as soon as possible.

The Details Behind Damage from Missing Shingles

  • Water: For a while, the felt paper below any missing shingles will shield your house from water damage. However, a missing asphalt shingle isn’t something you should leave unattended for too long. Left unfixed, you could be in danger, especially during heavy rain which can be common on Boston’s South Shore. Once under the shingles, water will rot the wood sheathing beneath. This can also harm your attic, ceiling joists, rafters, wall framing, and more. Rotting wood leads to structural instability in the home and seriously expensive damage. Leaking water is also a hazard because it leads to electrical issues and fire hazards when electrical systems are in close proximity to the leaking roof.
  • Mold: Mold and mildew can develop as a result of the moisture coming in through the damaged roof. Mold can ruin paint, walls, clothing, furniture, carpets, and rugs, not to mention cause health-related harm to people who have allergies or respiratory problems.
  • Ice: When the New England winter arrives, freezing water can lead to other issues. When the water which has entered the home freezes, it expands. This leads to cracks in the roof or framing of the house. It’s a slippery slope as the cracks allow more water to seep in – which makes the structure more unstable. You can read more about the impact of ice on roofs here, here, and here.
  • Increased Energy Bills: A roof with a hole in it is permeable. With a missing shingle, you will find it harder to keep your home warm or cold depending on the season and this will increase your energy bills.

How Our South Shore Roofing Company Can Help

As with many other home issues, it’s better to fix the problem of a missing asphalt shingle sooner rather than later. Our roofing contractor experts at South Shore Roofing can fix your home or commercial roof before it starts leaking. We’ll help keep your family, employees, or tenants safe and dry! So, please reach out any time to discuss roof damages and the best solutions.

 

 

 

 

 

Why Wet Home and Office Walls Warrant Taking Immediate Action

Despite our rainy New England springs, and sometimes snowy winters, it’s not normal — or a good thing — if your South Shore home or office has wet walls, or if you’ve noticed new water stains or mold in your commercial or residential building. Sure, we’ve all experienced a fogged-up mirror or small droplets on the wall due to condensation left in the bathroom after a shower. But, such moisture should dry up within an hour or less, and your bathroom and kitchen should be the only rooms in your office or house where you experience such short-term moisture.
How To Know If Moisture Is Meddling With Your Residential or Commercial Property
In addition to having walls that are wet in appearance and touch, other signs your home or business has a moisture issue that needs to be addressed immediately include:
  • Wallpaper or wall paint that is peeling
  • Wall or ceiling stains from mold
  • Water stains on walls or ceilings
  • A musty smell or odor emanating from walls or ceilings
Why Even Your Bathroom Shouldn’t Be Bathed in Moisture
Damp, wet, or slick walls, that remain so, mean trouble for both your family’s or tenant’s health as well as your residential property’s or commercial property’s health. Mold can make both humans and pets sick. And, the longer it is left untreated, the more mold can spread — creating uninhabitable work and living spaces. Houses can literally be rendered unlivable by deadly mold that is not addressed. Plus, the cost associated with removing such mold grows exponentially along with the mold!
Common Sources of Home and Office Wall Moisture
Three of the most common sources of home and office wall moisture — and what causes them — include:
  • Inadequate drainage – Home or office dampness can stem from inadequate ground and surface drainage. Pooled water from saturated ground, downspouts, or runoff can find its way into your house or business via porous walls or cracks in your foundation.
  • Condensation – this occurs when hot, moist air hits cold, dry air — causing water droplets to form on cold surfaces, such as home and office walls. We’ve all noticed condensation in the bathroom or kitchen after a steamy shower or when the tea kettle’s been whistling
  • Leaks – this can be due to something as simple and noticeable as a leaky washing machine, dishwater, bathtub, or sink; something less obvious like roof-related leaks occurring in chimneys, vents, or skylights, or, from leaks associated with inadequate or deteriorating flashing on windows and doors; and from Mother-Nature-induced ice dams.

Why Temperature Discrepancies Can Spell Big Trouble

Many of the reasons past and new customers reach out to us at South Shore Roofing in winter months have to do with the colder temperatures we experience in the Greater Boston area. The huge difference between the temperature outside home and office buildings and the temperature inside can cause an abnormally large amount of condensation, causing walls to get and remain wet. This in turn leads to mold build-up and water and mold stains. In addition, as we discussed in our blog post about ice dams, such temperature contrasts (uneven temperatures) can occur within your home or office roof itself. The latter can also lead to leaks and water damage.

Our residential roofing contractor and commercial roofing contract experts can help you determine both the source of your wall moisture and the best way to treat it. For example, installing adequate roof ventilation in your home or office may help to control moisture levels and save you from needing a premature roof replacement. Or, perhaps, your home needs greater insulation.

Experiencing the “moisture meddling” signs we described above? Don’t try to solve or fix the problem yourself. Contact our team of professional home roofers and commercial roofers at South Shore Roofing today to ensure the good health of your family, tenants, employees, and that of your business property or residential property!

How To Remove Snow From Your Property Safely

Particularly for those of us who grew up in New England, we don’t tend to give a lot of thought to the right way and the wrong way to remove snow. As you’ll learn further on in this post, there’s also a right time and a wrong time to remove snow. Many of us have been shoveling snow since we were kids and trying to help mom and dad get their cars out of the driveway after a big winter storm. In most cases, no-one gave us much training on the “do’s and don’ts” of snow shoveling, and it’s even less likely that someone taught us the safe way to remove snow from a house roof or business roof. But, we’re never too old to learn something new, right?

To make sure all our South Shore MA and Greater Boston area neighbors stay safe this winter, we’re sharing tips & techniques for removing snow the safe way — whether it’s via a shovel or snow blower for driveways, paths, and sidewalks, or a rake for pitched residential roofs or commercial roofs.Removing Snow From Roof -- South Shore Roofing, South Shore MA

SNOW SHOVELING AND SNOW BLOWING SAFETY TIPS & TECHNIQUES

  • Snow shoveling takes a lot of strength, requires you to exert a lot of energy, and is hard on your joints and muscles. You wouldn’t go out and run a couple of miles or bench-press heavy weights if you hadn’t done so in the recent past, would you? You should take the same precautions when it comes to snow shoveling or pushing a snow blower. If you’ve been experiencing chest pain or shortness of breath, or suffer from heart-related or lung-related disease, allocate the chore of snow shoveling or snow blowing to someone who enjoys better health.
  • If you are someone who is physically active and believe you are physically able to snow shovel or snow blow with limited risk of heart attack, be sure to adhere to the following when doing so:
    • Don’t smoke or eat right before or while you are shoveling or pushing a snowblower
    • Stretch well before you start your work, and then take it slow
    • Shovel only light, fresh, powdery snow
    • Push snow vs. lifting it; if you have to lift snow with a shovel, use a small one, or only fill the shovel part of the way — then, lift the shovel with your legs, not with your back
    • Take frequent breaks, and don’t push yourself to the point of physical exhaustion; stay hydrated by keeping a bottle of water nearby
    • Recognize the signs of a heart attack; put down the snow shovel, or turn off and step away from the snow blower, right away; then, call 911
    • Never run a snow blower in an enclosed space, such as a garage, due to carbon monoxide poisoning risk
    • Turn off a snow blower that has jammed — continuing to use it is not safe for a variety of reasons!
    • Keep your hands away from your snow blower’s moving parts
    • Wait until you and your snow blower are outside to add fuel, and never, ever add fuel to your snow blower while it is running
    • Never, ever leave a running snow blower unattended

SNOW RAKING SAFETY TIPS & TECHNIQUES

Did you know wet snow weighs approximately twice as much as dry snow? While most South Shore Massachusetts, and New England home roofs and commercial roofs are designed to handle excess snow, there’s always a risk for structural damage when large quantities of wet snow pile up on your home roof or office roof. And, large, flat roofs pose an even greater risk.

Most city, state, and federal agencies who issue health & wellness guidelines will advise you not to go it alone when it comes to removing snow from your roof/roof raking. Therefore, they will advise you to hire a roofing professional like us; however, if you feel you must tackle removing roof snow on your own, at least recruit a friend or neighbor to help you, and adhere to the following safety measures:

  • Never shovel or rake snow from a roof at a time when family members or other individuals working or living in your building may be exiting or entering the home, apartment building, or office building
  • Use a snow rake for pitched roofs (available at most hardware stores) to remove snow from your pitched roof; start from the edge of your roof and work your way into the middle of the roof
  • Attempt to shave the snow on the roof down, so that 2-3 inches of snow remain, instead of scraping the roof clean — scraping too deep/hard will risk damage to your shingles or other roof covering
  • Keep in mind that any metal tool could conduct electricity if it touches a power line, so if there is any risk of your mistakenly hitting a power line with a metal tool, don’t use one; if not used by a professional, use of metal tools may damage your roof
  • Shovel snow from flat roofs throwing the snow over the side and away from the building; as discussed in our blog post on preventing ice dams, keep gutters and drains free of ice & snow and keep downspouts clean at ground level
  • Unless approved by a registered professional engineer, don’t add the weight of your body or that of a helper’s, or that of equipment to the roof
  • Don’t use a ladder to remove snow from a roof since ice can build up on ladder rungs and the bottom of footwear, increasing risk of slipping
  • Don’t use electric heating devices like hair dryers or heat guns to remove snow & ice; definitely DO NOT use open-flame devices to remove them

Regardless of the New England season, we’ve been helping South Shore Massachusetts and Greater Boston homeowners and business owners with their roofing needs and roofing challenges for many years — including ice dam removal and ice dam prevention. So, bring in the roofing experts when it’s required by contacting our residential roofing services and business roofing services company today!

Be sure to also check out our other “winter safety” blog posts:

 

 

 

 

Plan Now to Avoid Singing The Power-Outage Blues This Winter

It’s been two days of strong winds and snow in the New England region, as we write this post, and a good reminder to all of us living in the Region, and particularly, those living on Boston’s South Shore or in some other New England coastal area, that we should always make sure we’re well-prepared for a power outage.  Unfortunately, this somewhat common winter power-outage circumstance can leave businesses and families without heat, electricity, and/or communication services for one or many days.

Most of us hardy New Englanders and those who live on Massachusetts’ Eastern coast know how un-fun and un-safe (particularly for the elderly, young children, and those who are ill) not having power in the late fall and winter can be. Homes and businesses can get cold really quickly in our colder temps, perishable food like meat and dairy can go bad, and one can easily trip or get physically hurt for other reasons when you can’t see your way around your house or office after the sun goes down. Why not avoid, or at least minimize, all the aforementioned possible unpleasant — and potentially dangerous — impacts of a winter storm power outage by taking the following preparation steps.

Steps to Prepare for a Power Outage:

I. Ideally, weeks before a winter storm may hit and knock out power in your area:

II. In the days leading up to a predicted winter storm:

  • Think like a camper — purchase candles, flashlights, and battery-operated lanterns if you don’t already own some, and be sure you have matches and the right-sized batteries on hand for the aforementioned items. You may also want to purchase a radio if you don’t have one, and have batteries on hand for it.
  • Go nuts — if you don’t already have a decent supply, stash up on high-protein packaged items like nuts, canned goods like tuna fish, and jarred food like peanut butter that don’t require heating, and therefore, a power source. You’ll also want a good supply on hand of other non-perishable items like crackers, and a loaf or two of bread that should stay fresh for a number of days.
  • Act like a thirsty person — keep an extra supply of bottled water on hand and ask those you live with not to drink it, so it’s there when you need it!
  • Go down the family member checklist — make sure that any needs related to a family members’ physical and emotional health challenges will be met during a storm time frame when roads may not be drive-able or pharmacies open. Be sure family members have a sufficient supply of any prescription or over-the-counter medications or other treatments they may need to maintain their health.
  • Seek out the warm, comfy, cozy stuff — to prevent having to do so in the dark, identify where you’ve stored any thick blankets, sweaters, and socks for yourself and family members and consider moving them to a more accessible place. For example, if your surplus of blankets is stored in a basement closet that would require you to go down a set of stairs in the dark during a power outage, why not move them upstairs for the winter?
  • Don’t forget furry family members — make sure you have plenty of food in the house for your pets, whether they be four-legged creatures or ones that swim in a bowl or tank.
  • Fill up your tank — speaking of tanks, in case you need to vacate your home or business (that is if roads and weather conditions make it safe to travel) to stay at a shelter like a school, a friend’s or family member’s home, or a hotel, make sure you have plenty of gas in your car. And, related to cars, be sure to purchase and keep a cell phone charger that works in your car should you need to recharge your phone and are able to make it safely to your car to do so.

Our Team Of Residential Roofing Contractors Is Always Here To Help!

We’re always here to chat with you about ways to keep your roof, home, business, and family warm & safe this winter, but be sure to also check out our other “winter safety” blog posts:

Be Carbon-Monoxide Smart to Keep Loved Ones Safe This Winter

While we’re South Shore MA roofers who specialize in safety related to your residential roof or commercial roof, we want to do all we can to keep our New England neighbors safe on a variety of home and business fronts, regardless of the season! So, we’re sharing another in a series of posts related to home and business safety.

During the months of winter, how many times have you listened to the news and learned of a family that was made deathly ill, or that even perished, from Carbon Monoxide (CO) Poisoning? We always think such a thing could never happen to us, but that’s only true if we take the necessary precautions to keep our homes and businesses CO-safe, particularly during the months of winter when CO Poisoning impacts the largest number of individuals.

Why are CO-related deaths and emergency room visits so high in December, January, February and March? Due to extremely cold temperatures and/or power outages, more people use gas-powered furnaces and well as use inside their homes or offices alternative heating sources that weren’t meant to be used inside or in an enclosed space –- sources like charcoal grills or propane stoves and grills.

So, before snow starts accumulating and icicles start forming, and as you make preparations for the holidays and associated celebrations and visitors, add these to your to-do list:

  • Buy a battery-powered or battery back-up CO detector if you don’t already have one – one for every level of your home – and set them up there.
  • Unless you’ve had one in the last nine months, schedule a check-up with a qualified technician for your heating system, water heater, and other gas, oil, or coal burning appliances.

What To Do To Avoid Carbon Monoxide Poisoning In The Winter

Once and while snow is in the air, on the ground, and on your roof, be sure to adhere to the following on an ongoing basis:

  • Keep vents and flues free, i.e., unblocked – whether it be from any kind of debris, snow or ice. This means furnace vents, intake valves and chimneys should be kept snow-free.
  • Related to what we shared at the beginning of our blog post, never burn anything in a stove or fireplace that is not vented.
  • Even when bitter cold or power outages hit, never use a hibachi, charcoal grill, lantern, or portable camping stove inside a home, tent, or camper. If it’s too cold to stay in your home, go to emergency shelters or centers set up by your town, such as a school.
  • Never heat your home with a gas stove.

What To Do To Avoid Carbon Monoxide Poisoning All Year Long

And, regardless of the time of year, make sure you follow these CO Poisoning Prevention Guidelines:

  • Never run the motor in your car, truck, or other vehicle in an enclosed or partially enclosed space, such as a garage.
  • Never run a motor vehicle, generator, pressure washer, or any gasoline-powered engine less than 20 feet from an open window, door, or vent – you don’t want exhaust to vent into an enclosed area.
  • The same guideline above for the same machinery/vehicles/tools above apply to a basement, garage, or other enclosed structure. Keeping the doors or windows open may not be enough to prevent CO poisoning. So don’t risk operating the aforementioned in these spots.
  • Recognize these symptoms of CO poisoning, including dizziness, light-headed-ness, and nausea.
  • Any time you suspect CO poisoning, or your CO detector sounds, leave your house or business, and call 911 or a health care professional right away.

Remember Carbon Monoxide Is An Odorless and Colorless Gas, So When In Doubt, Have Your Home or Business Checked Out! And, Be Sure to Read About What You Can Do on the Ice Dam Prevention and Ice Dam Removal Fronts to Keep Your Family Safe This Winter!