If this will be your first winter in Philadelphia after living in an area that’s warm year-round, you’ll need to get prepared for the potential for a very cold and possibly snowy winter. The cold season lasts for about three months in the Northeast, commonly beginning around the end of December and ending in mid-March. For the time in between, here are three must-haves that you should have in your Philly home in preparation for the winter season.

Twin Draft Guard

If you stand near your door on a cold day and feel or hear a windy draft coming in from under the door, a twin draft guard will fix that problem right away. A draft guard has two foam tubes on either side that block air from coming in under your door. Simply slide it under the door each winter for insulation. If you have air coming in on the sides or top of your door, line the areas with foam weatherstripping tape.

Image Source: Flickr/Bryn Pinzgauer

Plastic Insulation for Your Windows

There’s one important product that you should pick up from your home improvement store every fall or winter: a window insulation kit. This kit contains several pieces of plastic and a roll of double-sided tape. Line the inside or frame of the window sill with the tape, then secure the edges of the plastic sheet over the tape. Use a blow dryer to heat set the tape and to help make the plastic a little tighter. Follow the directions closely for the best results. Installing this plastic insulation on all of your windows each winter in Philadelphia will keep your home warm and your energy bill low.

Pipe Insulation

Another smart buy for the winter is plenty of pipe insulation. These are foam tubes that are designed to protect and shield your water pipes from cold weather or heat loss. Each tube has an open slit that allows you to slide it right over your water pipes. Use pipe insulation to cover all of the exposed water pipes that you can find in your home, including those in your basement and under sinks throughout the home.

Heavyweight Tarp

If your Philly home has a wooden deck or patio that hasn’t been recently treated with waterproof stain, protect it from freezing rain and snow with heavyweight tarp. Exposure to water and snow year after year can cause the wood on a deck to degrade, peel, crack, and attract mildew. Before the winter season begins, cover the deck with a tarp and use your deck furniture to hold it down at the corners. At your earliest convenience, invest in restoring and waterproofing your deck — this is a do-it-yourself project that you can take on next spring.

Image Source: Flickr/Christine Majul

Bags of Rock Salt

If it turns out to be one of those snowy winters in Philadelphia, you’ll be glad you have plenty of rock salt in storage. East Coast stores often run out of rock salt at the height of the season. Use your rock salt directly after shoveling your walkways to prevent icing.

It’s always best to get out ahead of the cold season when you’re a homeowner in a city like Philadelphia. When doing your preparations, keep these must-haves for your first winter in Philadelphia at the top of your list.

Main Image Source: Flickr/Ezra Wolfe

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