One of the beautiful things about Colorado is it could be 60 degrees one day followed by 20 degrees (plus a snow storm) the next. That can also mean having to be prepared for whatever Mother Nature has in store.

Suddenly work on the yard and entryway shifts to shoveling snow. Winter specifically is when we have to make sure that our homes are safe, because while snow is no doubt fun, winter-weather can also be challenging and hazardous.

Check out these quick tips for how to keep your home (and yourself) safe and prepared this winter:

1. Eliminate frozen pipes.
If you’ve been there (as you can imagine), burst pipes are expensive and create a mess in your home. Pipes in attics, crawl spaces and outside walls are particularly vulnerable – you can prevent by placing insulation between the pipe and wall or leaving a drip of water from your faucet when they are most vulnerable.

2. Prevent ice dams.
Luckily this isn’t a huge problem throughout the entire winter in Colorado – but it’s still an issue to be aware of as they can easily accumulate. Ice dams are an accumulation of ice at the bottom edge of a sloped roof. Often the heat from your home melts the snow causing it to melt and then refreeze at the roof’s edge. During the coldest months, make sure you have a snow roof rake and clean off the first few feet of your roof. Otherwise, a professional will be able to help as this can be dangerous.

3. Drain all outdoor hoses and disconnect them from the faucet.
As we all know, in Colorado you could be watering your plants outside one day and the next could be a blizzard. Remember to turn off the outside water lines, drain the hoses and disconnect from the faucet to remove the standing water inside the pipes.

4. Shovel + Ice Melt.
Clearing your sidewalks and driveway is always a good idea when it snows. Ice can be dangerous and deceiving. And when it comes to ice melt – there is a difference in the type you purchase.

One of our favorite brands that we trust and recommend is Safe Step.

Here’s the difference:

• Melts ice fast and effectively without the worry of harming your concrete, lawn or pets.
• It is a naturally formulated and non-toxic ice melt that provides maximum ice removal performance without sacrificing safety.
• Contains less chloride than other conventional ice melt – 33% less than calcium chloride and sodium chloride products.
• Safer for people – won’t burn skin so gloves are not needed for application.
• Safer for pets – doesn’t irritate pet paws.
• Safer for birds and other wild animals.
• Safer for plants due to lower chloride level – no leaf burn, root toxicity or grass kill, all of which can cost money to repair or replace come springtime.
• Less toxic than baking soda.

Do you regularly use ice melt?
What do you do to winterize your home and make sure that it stays safe in the winter?