Harsh winter weather is commonplace in numerous northern areas. But even states with milder winters can get hit with extreme cold from time to time. As adverse weather and climate events continue to increase, Huntersville rental property owners need to know how to get their rental homes ready when the next polar vortex strikes.
There are a few different techniques 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 perfect ways to get ready for an extreme cold weather event is to enlist your tenants to help you. Probably the most important step 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 clear guidelines to your tenants on how to run the taps in your rental house during a cold-weather event.
Furthermore, it is imperative to guide your resident where the main water shut-off valve is located and how to operate it. In the situation of a water leak, you can avoid massive damage by getting the water turned off sooner rather than later. Ultimately, protect hose bibs and other exposed plumbing by covering them with insulation or pipe wraps. By implementing these basic steps, it is often possible to keep the water on and your rental property free of water damage even amidst an intense cold snap.
Medium Projects
If you’ve got the small projects in hand but want to take the next step, there are a handful of additional projects that can make a huge impact on how well your rental property bears up against 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 keep rooms comfortable. In the same way, your rental home can greatly benefit from more energy-efficient doors. As an example, simply replacing a hollow-core exterior door for one that is insulated can dramatically improve energy efficiency. In cold temperatures, even small improvements in energy efficiency can greatly affect your utility bill – in addition to your tenant’s comfort levels.
Large Projects
There are also a few large projects that, if possible, will dramatically improve your property’s performance and get your rental house as protected as it can be for extreme cold weather. Let’s say if you’ve been utilizing electric heat, think about switching to natural gas. Most often, natural gas furnaces are more efficient and easier on the budget than electric ones. What is more, if the power does go out during a cold-weather event, your rental home will still have heat.
Another large project to consider is to add insulation to your rental property’s attic, walls, or foundation. This may be relatively necessary if your rental property is older or has never been updated since insulation standards have adjusted over the years. It is vital to inspect your property’s current insulation levels and increase them if low. Many variations of blow-in or spray-in insulation can help improve the structure’s energy efficiency without requiring major demolition or impairment of your tenants’ lives.
With projects for every rental property and budget, there are measures that can be taken to get your rental house ready in the event of a polar vortex. With extreme weather on the rise, the ideal method to be prepared is to start getting your rental house ready long before the cold arrives.
Would you like more tips on getting your rental property ready for the future? Real Property Management Charlotte Metro can help! Our professional Huntersville property managers partner with property investors like you to help you maximize the potential of your investment property. To learn more, contact us online or call at 704-919-1344 today!
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