3 Pro Tips To Manage Snow At Home This Winter

Winter is just around the corner, and for some, the snowy weather has already begun. As temperatures continue to drop for the next several months, snow is going to become more of a regular sight for most homeowners. While a yard full of fresh snow may be beautiful, it's important to know how to take care of snowfall around your home and yard this winter. Use these tips to protect your home and yard from severe winter weather over the next few months.

Keep Your Home And Pipes Warm

While everyone wants to stay toasty during frosty weather, keeping your home's furnace well-maintained isn't just great for staying warm. Having a fully-functioning heater can also help prevent your pipes from freezing when the temperature plummets. The type of furnace you have will determine just how much maintenance it needs, though many newer heaters now use gas. In fact, natural gas is the second most heavily consumed energy source in the United States. Check up on your furnace and make sure it's in full working condition before the coldest months of the years hit near you. Otherwise, your home could be left without heat, and on top of making your home a bit chilly, it could also end up causing damage.

Clear Your Yard

Snowfall on your yard can look beautiful and be one of the idyllic seasonal moments many homeowners wait for. However, before all that snow hits the ground, it's important to do your best to clear your yard of any debris. Front and back lawns in the U.S. collectively contain almost 21 million acres of grass; that's a lot of space for snow to land. Whatever snow falls on top of will likely be what's revealed when the snow melts again in the spring. Be sure to thoroughly clean your yard now and pick up after any pets, or you'll have an unpleasant surprise waiting for you once spring comes again.

Purchase A Snowblower

While many people see a snowblower as unnecessary and expensive, it's often well worth the investment. This is especially true for older or aging homeowners who may struggle to shovel their sidewalks and driveways safely. People over the age of 55 are more than four times as likely to suffer a heart-related injury when shoveling snow, according to a study published in the American Journal of Emergency Medicine. Instead of hurting yourself attempting to shovel what seems like an endless amount of snow, a snowblower can help you take care of the cold wintery mess faster and without as much physical strain.

If you already own a snowblower, make sure that you do any necessary maintenance before it snows. Otherwise, you may end up with a broken snowblower in the middle of the season's biggest snowstorm. In 2009, the revenue of machinery maintenance and heavy equipment repair services in the U.S. totaled around $29 billion. While repairing a snowblower might be costly, it's a worthy investment for a more comfortable winter.

Winter will be here before you know it, and with the change of seasons come lower temperatures and a higher chance of heavier snow. If you're not prepared, the rough winter weather can sneak up on you and make a mess of your property. Before you end up snowed in, make sure you take these steps to prepare your home and yard against the upcoming winter weather.