Get Ready for a Philadelphia Winter
We’re gearing up for another cold, snow-filled Philadelphia winter. Before the cold weather hits, there are a few things you can do to get ready. Seal up your home so that your heating bill doesn’t go through the roof, and prepare for some snow and ice.
Whether you’ve been living in the city for a while or have just purchased your first home in Philadelphia, it can be tough to know what to expect in the winter. Some years, the Philadelphia winter is a mild one. Other years, winter means freezing temperatures and lots of snow for months on end. For the 2014-2015 season, meteorologist Glen “Hurricane” Schwartz has predicted an average temperature this winter of 31.8 degrees, three degrees lower than usual. His prediction for snow is between 40 and 45 inches, or about two times the average amount. While you can’t avoid the chill this winter, you can take a few steps to make sure you and your home are ready for whatever it brings.
Seal Up Windows and Leaks
In the winter, your home’s heater works to keep you warm and comfortable. But if you live in an old, leaky home, your heater has to work against the cold air that’s seeping in and against the warm air that’s seeping out. A leaky home is a more expensive home, according to the US Energy Star program. Fortunately, there are a number of ways you can keep your home from leaking air.
- The first thing to do is find the source of the air leaks. Chilly air can usually get in around areas that aren’t fully sealed, such as your home’s windows, recessed lighting, and electrical outlets.
- If your home has a basement, you may also have gaps around the pipes that lead out of the house.
- One way to seal off recessed lighting and outlets is to place a foam gasket behind them.
- You can caulk the opening around pipes to keep the cool air out and the warm air in.
- Adding caulk or weatherstripping around your windows and doors will also reduce leaks.
Take Care of Outdoor Areas
Before the Philadelphia winter hits, you’ll want to make sure your outdoor space, if you have one, is ready. If you have an outdoor spigot, switch it off for the winter. Turn the spigot on after you turn off the water supply, so that the water left in the pipes can drain and won’t freeze during the winter. Leave the spigot on all winter, until it’s time to turn the water back on in the spring.
Get Your Winter Gear in Order
Take a look in your basement or hall closet and make sure you have a snow shovel and rock salt ready to go. It might not have snowed yet, but it’s better to be ready for the first big (or small) snowfall, than to have to head to the store in the middle of a storm to stock up. During the snowstorms of 2014, stores had trouble keeping rock salt in stock, meaning plenty of people were out of luck.
Once you’ve sealed your home and stocked up on salt, take a minute to look over the rules for shoveling snow this winter. According to the city’s code, homeowners and tenants need to clear a path of at least 36 inches along the sidewalk no more than six hours after the snow has stopped falling.
With its cold weather and heaps of snow, a Philadelphia winter can seem formidable. But if you take the time to get ready now, you can find yourself enjoying a hot cup of cocoa and a blanket when the first big snowstorm of the season hits.
Image Source: Flickr/Beck Gusler
[cf]skyword_tracking_tag[/cf]
40 Comments
Get Ready for a Philadelphia Winter | Joseph-Roland Joubert's Blog
November 25, 2014[…] ← Get Ready for a Philadelphia Winter […]
Get Ready for a Philadelphia Winter | My Website
November 25, 2014[…] Get Ready for a Philadelphia Winter […]
Get Ready for a Philadelphia Winter | Patrick Lim's Blog
November 25, 2014[…] post Get Ready for a Philadelphia Winter appeared first on Coldwell Banker Blue […]
Get Ready for a Philadelphia Winter | Elouise Margita's Blog
November 25, 2014[…] Once you’ve sealed your home and stocked up on salt, take a minute to look over the rules for shoveling snow this winter. According to the city’s code, homeowners and tenants need to clear …read more […]
Drex
December 5, 2014Hello Amy, I was wondering if you could email me in regards to this post. I have some more Winter Ideas to add that you might be interested. They are for Best Ski Resorts in Philly. Thanks!
How to Make My House Smell Good During the Holidays | Joseph-Roland Joubert's Blog
December 22, 2014[…] winter holidays have one major drawback: They happen during winter, when the weather in Philadelphia tends to be cold, if not snowy and wet. That means you can’t throw open your windows and let […]
How to Make My House Smell Good During the Holidays | Donna Dagley's Blog
December 23, 2014[…] winter holidays have one major drawback: They happen during winter, when the weather in Philadelphia tends to be cold, if not snowy and wet. That means you can’t throw open your windows and let […]
Winter Weather Forecast for Philadelphia: Top 6 Things to Expect During the Coldest Season | Janet Glowacki's Blog
December 29, 2014[…] the winter weather forecast for Philadelphia may be messy and travel difficult, city-dwellers often come up with unique solutions to the daily […]
Winter Weather Forecast for Philadelphia: Top 6 Things to Expect During the Coldest Season | Rigo's blog
December 29, 2014[…] the winter weather forecast for Philadelphia may be messy and travel difficult, city-dwellers often come up with unique solutions to the daily […]
Winter Weather Forecast for Philadelphia: Top 6 Things to Expect During the Coldest Season | Joseph-Roland Joubert's Blog
December 29, 2014[…] the winter weather forecast for Philadelphia may be messy and travel difficult, city-dwellers often come up with unique solutions to the daily […]
Winter Weather Forecast for Philadelphia: Top 6 Things to Expect During the Coldest Season | Donna Dagley's Blog
December 30, 2014[…] the winter weather forecast for Philadelphia may be messy and travel difficult, city-dwellers often come up with unique solutions to the daily […]
3 Tips for Selling a Property in the Middle of a Philly Winter | Janet Glowacki's Blog
January 26, 2015[…] and ice tend to make a mess of things during a Philadelphia winter. If people are coming to see your home after a snowstorm, make sure you’ve properly cleared […]
3 Tips for Selling a Property in the Middle of a Philly Winter | Elouise Margita's Blog
January 26, 2015[…] and ice tend to make a mess of things during a Philadelphia winter. If people are coming to see your home after a snowstorm, make sure you’ve properly cleared […]
Preparing for an East Coast Snow Storm | Pam Smith's Blog
January 27, 2015[…] a comfortable temperature inside. Spend time in advance of an East Coast snow storm to thoroughly winterize your home to reduce heating costs. Here are a few important […]
Preparing for an East Coast Snow Storm | Janet Glowacki's Blog
January 27, 2015[…] a comfortable temperature inside. Spend time in advance of an East Coast snow storm to thoroughly winterize your home to reduce heating costs. Here are a few important […]
Preparing for an East Coast Snow Storm | Joseph-Roland Joubert's Blog
January 27, 2015[…] a comfortable temperature inside. Spend time in advance of an East Coast snow storm to thoroughly winterize your home to reduce heating costs. Here are a few important […]
Preparing for an East Coast Snow Storm | Rigo's blog
January 27, 2015[…] a comfortable temperature inside. Spend time in advance of an East Coast snow storm to thoroughly winterize your home to reduce heating costs. Here are a few important […]
Preparing for an East Coast Snow Storm | Emily Bradley's Blog
January 27, 2015[…] a comfortable temperature inside. Spend time in advance of an East Coast snow storm to thoroughly winterize your home to reduce heating costs. Here are a few important […]
A Winter How-To Guide for Philadelphia Homeowners | Janet Glowacki's Blog
January 28, 2015[…] conditioning and heating season is a great time to have your heater cleaned and serviced. During the Philadelphia winter months, you’ll also want to periodically change your HVAC filter to guarantee your heater is […]
A Winter How-To Guide for Philadelphia Homeowners | Donna Dagley's Blog
January 28, 2015[…] conditioning and heating season is a great time to have your heater cleaned and serviced. During the Philadelphia winter months, you’ll also want to periodically change your HVAC filter to guarantee your heater is […]
Preparing for an East Coast Snow Storm | Donna Dagley's Blog
January 28, 2015[…] a comfortable temperature inside. Spend time in advance of an East Coast snow storm to thoroughly winterize your home to reduce heating costs. Here are a few important […]
Preparing for an East Coast Snow Storm | Trisha Muska's Blog
January 28, 2015[…] a comfortable temperature inside. Spend time in advance of an East Coast snow storm to thoroughly winterize your home to reduce heating costs. Here are a few important […]
A Winter How-To Guide for Philadelphia Homeowners | Joseph-Roland Joubert's Blog
January 28, 2015[…] conditioning and heating season is a great time to have your heater cleaned and serviced. During the Philadelphia winter months, you’ll also want to periodically change your HVAC filter to guarantee your heater is […]
Billhowardproperties.com - Bill Howard, Kimberly Jordan, Billhowardproperties, Sugarland Properties, West university properties,Houston Properties, Coldwell Banker Bill Howard
January 28, 2015[…] a comfortable temperature inside. Spend time in advance of an East Coast snow storm to thoroughly winterize your home to reduce heating costs. Here are a few important […]
A Winter How-To Guide for Philadelphia Homeowners | Pam Smith's Blog
January 28, 2015[…] conditioning and heating season is a great time to have your heater cleaned and serviced. During the Philadelphia winter months, you’ll also want to periodically change your HVAC filter to guarantee your heater is […]
A Winter How-To Guide for Philadelphia Homeowners | Lerner Realty Solutions
January 28, 2015[…] conditioning and heating season is a great time to have your heater cleaned and serviced. During the Philadelphia winter months, you’ll also want to periodically change your HVAC filter to guarantee your heater is […]
A Winter How-To Guide for Philadelphia Homeowners | Emily Bradley's Blog
January 28, 2015[…] conditioning and heating season is a great time to have your heater cleaned and serviced. During the Philadelphia winter months, you’ll also want to periodically change your HVAC filter to guarantee your heater is […]
4 Home Improvement Ideas to Tackle in 2015 | Janet Glowacki's Blog
February 18, 2015[…] to fix up your kitchen, your bathrooms, and your windows, choose one project and start there. If this winter’s cold temperatures have found you reaching to turn up the thermostat more often than not, it might be a good idea to […]
Billhowardproperties.com - Bill Howard, Kimberly Jordan, Billhowardproperties, Sugarland Properties, West university properties,Houston Properties, Coldwell Banker Bill Howard
February 19, 2015[…] to fix up your kitchen, your bathrooms, and your windows, choose one project and start there. If this winter’s cold temperatures have found you reaching to turn up the thermostat more often than not, it might be a good idea to […]
4 Home Improvement Ideas to Tackle in 2015 | Emily Bradley's Blog
February 19, 2015[…] to fix up your kitchen, your bathrooms, and your windows, choose one project and start there. If this winter’s cold temperatures have found you reaching to turn up the thermostat more often than not, it might be a good idea to […]
4 Home Improvement Ideas to Tackle in 2015 | Lerner Realty Solutions
February 19, 2015[…] to fix up your kitchen, your bathrooms, and your windows, choose one project and start there. If this winter’s cold temperatures have found you reaching to turn up the thermostat more often than not, it might be a good idea to […]
4 Home Improvement Ideas to Tackle in 2015 | Rigo's blog
February 19, 2015[…] to fix up your kitchen, your bathrooms, and your windows, choose one project and start there. If this winter’s cold temperatures have found you reaching to turn up the thermostat more often than not, it might be a good idea to […]
4 Home Improvement Ideas to Tackle in 2015 | Pam Smith's Blog
February 19, 2015[…] to fix up your kitchen, your bathrooms, and your windows, choose one project and start there. If this winter’s cold temperatures have found you reaching to turn up the thermostat more often than not, it might be a good idea to […]
4 Home Improvement Ideas to Tackle in 2015 | Donna Dagley's Blog
February 19, 2015[…] to fix up your kitchen, your bathrooms, and your windows, choose one project and start there. If this winter’s cold temperatures have found you reaching to turn up the thermostat more often than not, it might be a good idea to […]
5 Indoor Winter Activities in Philly to Help You Stay Warm | Janet Glowacki's Blog
March 12, 2015[…] heater’s working overtime to keep your home at room temperature. Although the weather during a Philadelphia winter can be something to reckon with, the city doesn’t give up or go into hibernation until […]
5 Indoor Winter Activities in Philly to Help You Stay Warm | Lerner Realty Solutions
March 12, 2015[…] heater’s working overtime to keep your home at room temperature. Although the weather during a Philadelphia winter can be something to reckon with, the city doesn’t give up or go into hibernation until […]
5 Indoor Winter Activities in Philly to Help You Stay Warm | Pam Smith's Blog
March 12, 2015[…] heater’s working overtime to keep your home at room temperature. Although the weather during a Philadelphia winter can be something to reckon with, the city doesn’t give up or go into hibernation until […]
5 Indoor Winter Activities in Philly to Help You Stay Warm | Joseph-Roland Joubert's Blog
March 12, 2015[…] heater’s working overtime to keep your home at room temperature. Although the weather during a Philadelphia winter can be something to reckon with, the city doesn’t give up or go into hibernation until […]
5 Indoor Winter Activities in Philly to Help You Stay Warm | Rigo's blog
March 12, 2015[…] heater’s working overtime to keep your home at room temperature. Although the weather during a Philadelphia winter can be something to reckon with, the city doesn’t give up or go into hibernation until […]
Billhowardproperties.com - Bill Howard, Kimberly Jordan, Billhowardproperties, Sugarland Properties, West university properties,Houston Properties, Coldwell Banker Bill Howard
March 12, 2015[…] heater’s working overtime to keep your home at room temperature. Although the weather during a Philadelphia winter can be something to reckon with, the city doesn’t give up or go into hibernation until […]