Inclement Weather Reminders: Preparing Your Rental

Emily Brick Road Rentals • December 4, 2020

As we approach the winter months, we need to prepare for potential inclement weather. Many renters do not know the procedures to take when faced with below freezing temperature. In today's blog post, we will be sharing a few key items in your rental you will want to make sure are prepared for inclement weather!


What To Do: When The Temperature is Below Freezing


1. Maintain heat at all times-  Do not lower your thermostat below 55 degrees, even if you're planning to leave for an extended period of time. This may cause your pipes to freeze and potentially burst. 
 
2. Slow drip and open cabinet doors- When the weather is forecasted to be below freezing, let your water faucet maintain a slow drip. Also, open your cabinet doors to allow warm air to circulate under any exposed pipes under your sinks.  
 
3. Emergency Heat- If your rental has a Heat Pump (hot air produced by an electric heat), you may see that your thermostat reads Emergency Heat from time to time. This is done when the temperature is low and the unit needs a boost to increase its effectiveness. On many heat pumps there is an option to manually turn on emergency heat. Do use this function, if needed, but do not leave your system in emergency heat for an extended period of time, as doing so will increase your electricity bill.  

4. Snow Removal-  You will want to check with your landlords and lease for snow removal policies. We recommend to not use salt or de-icer as using those products can deteriorate the interior of your home if accidentally brought in and cause damage to flooring. It is always a good idea to use caution when removing snow.


If Your Pipes Freeze

Frozen pipes are not an emergency unless the frozen pipe has burst and is leaking. If your pipes do burst, please call 311 the (City of Richmond Emergency) line or your local emergency line. The City of Richmond will send someone out to shut off your water. Once you have contacted them, notify your property management.


If you see a pipe has burst and is causing damage to the property, locate the water valve and shut it off yourself. 


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