Harsh winter weather is frequent in numerous northern areas. But even states with milder winters can get hit with severe cold from time to time. As extreme weather and climate events continue to increase, City of St. Louis rental property owners need to know how to get their rental homes prepared for when the next polar vortex strikes.
There are numerous different methods to prepare a rental house for extreme cold. From small projects to the bigger renovations, in this article, we’ll take a look at cost-effective ways to get your rental home ready to withstand anything Mother Nature may bring.
Small Projects
One of the effective ways to get ready for an extreme cold weather event is to enlist your tenants to help you. One of the most critical things you can do to prevent pipes from freezing and bursting (and flooding your rental property!) is to leave the water dripping at all times. Provide your tenants detailed guidelines on how to run the taps in your rental house during a cold-weather event.
Additionally, it is necessary to tell your resident where the main water shut-off valve is located and how to operate it. In the case of a water leak, you can avoid massive damage by getting the water turned off sooner rather than later. Lastly, protect hose bibs and other exposed plumbing by covering them with insulation or pipe wraps. Implementing these basic steps makes it generally easy to keep the water on and your rental property free of water damage even during a strong cold snap.
Medium Projects
If you’ve got the small projects in hand but want to take the next step, there are a few more projects that can make a major impact on how well your rental property weathers the next cold weather event. If your rental house doesn’t already have them, consider installing double-pane windows.
Not only are double-pane windows more energy-efficient, but they will also help prevent extreme cold air from leaking into the house at a moment when the furnace is already working overtime to make things pleasant. In the same way, your rental home might significantly gain from more energy-efficient doors. For instance, simply replacing a hollow-core exterior door for one that is insulated can dramatically improve energy efficiency. In cold temperatures, even tiny improvements in energy efficiency may make a major impact on your utility bill – aside from your tenant’s comfort levels.
Large Projects
To get your rental house to be prepared for extreme cold weather, there are also some large projects that, if possible, will dramatically improve your property’s performance. For instance, if you’ve been dependent on electric heat, think about switching to natural gas. In many circumstances, natural gas furnaces are more efficient and better on the budget than electric ones. Additionally, if the power does go out during a cold-weather event, your rental home will still have heat.
One more large project to think about is to add insulation to your rental property’s attic, walls, or foundation. This may be particularly crucial if your rental property is older or has never been updated as insulation standards have transformed over the years. It is advisable to inspect your property’s current insulation levels and increase them if low. Numerous types of blow-in or spray-in insulation can help improve the structure’s energy efficiency without requiring major demolition or disrupting your tenants’ lives.
With projects for every rental property and budget, there are things you can do to get your rental house ready in the event of a polar vortex. With extreme weather on the rise, the ideal way to be prepared is to start getting your rental house ready long before the cold arrives.
Would you want additional tips on getting your rental property ready for the future? Real Property Management Three Bridges can help! Our professional City of St. Louis property managers engages with property investors like you to help you maximize the potential of your investment property. To learn more, contact us online or call at 636-542-8852 today!
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