Preparing your beach house for winter weather
Breezy life at the beach becomes bitterly chilled during the winter
A few weeks ago, I gave some tips on preparing your beach house for coastal storms. While hurricane season ends in November, at that point you will have to prepare your house for the next season - winter. Although there is still plenty of summer left, it is never to early to think about how to protect your beach house from winter weather.
Living in a beach house during the winter has plenty of advantages. For instance, your town will be a lot less crowded, and you get to see the unique beauty of a beach covered in snow. However, there are plenty of disadvantages, too. The large windows designed for cooling your house with ocean breezes during the summer can make your home cold and drafty during the winter.
To protect your house, and yourself, during a long winter at the beach, there are several things you can do. You should first inspect the roof and all windows and doors for any openings and make the appropriate fixes. Aside from preventing any water from getting inside, you can also prevent heat from escaping. You should also ensure that your pipes are properly insulated so they won’t freeze or burst. In case a pipe does brake, make sure you know where the emergency shutoff valve is to minimize damage.
Once the inside of your beach house is protected, you can focus on the outside. Turn off the water supply for your outdoor faucets, and bring any hoses inside. If your beach house has an outdoor shower, cut off the water supply to this as well. Additionally, it is a good idea to place any furniture or other outside fixtures in your garage, so they won’t blow away from strong winter winds. (next page)
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