The Real Estate Browser Volume 9, Issue 13 | Page 8

8 — Say you saw it in The Real Estate Browser of Lynchburg — Volume 9 Number 13
www.LynchburgRealEstateBrowser.com
Is The Weather Affecting Your Home?
By Drew Howard , President, HomePro, Inc.
What a year of weather we have
had. I recall that April Sunday
evening I was eating dinner at the
Filling Station in Amherst. I was on the bypass
traveling ahead of what appeared to be very dark
clouds. I pulled in to the Filling Station to grab
a quick dinner. The waitress took my food order
while her mobile phone started to notify her of
text messages. I recall her looking at her phone,
looking at me, and then started crying. I knew
something was terribly wrong. I asked her what
happened and she just turned the phone around
for me to see a photo of what use to be a home.
The same month of April we had 3 weekends
of snow, and ended it with a tornado on a Sunday
evening. June brought more downpours with
extreme heat. July we experienced what was pos-
sibly another tornado with flooding rain that put
Timberlake, Waterlick, and 460 under water. I
think this will possibly be the wettest year on
record. We are 25+ inches of rainfall over for the
year. December 9, 2018 we are experiencing a big
snow. I have read articles, and witnessed in older
farm homes the carving of dates
in the 1800’s of a blizzard that was
anywhere from 90 to 120 inches.
That is hard for me to comprehend
in Central Virginia, but after see-
ing the massive amount of rainfall
in July I know it is possible. 1 inch
of rain is equivalent to 1 foot of
snow. The 7 to 9 inches of rain we
received in July would equal the 80
to 100 inches of snow.
garden hoses from outside hose bibs. Make sure
all gutters and downspouts are clear and drain-
ing away from the home. Inspect snow shovels,
snow blowers, and ice scrapers for car windows.
Now is the time to purchase a bag or two of win-
ter ice melt for sidewalks. Stock up on water and
freezer items. Remember if the power goes out
a frozen turkey will keep the refrigerator cold for
some time. Check all smoke alarms in the home
and replace batteries if needed. Inspect flash-
lights and go ahead and make an emergency food
box with energy bars, nuts, and raisins, crackers,
honey or M & M’s. Stick a deck of cards and a
few puzzles in the box.
If you haven’t had the furnace or boiler ser-
viced for winter now is the time. Take a few min-
utes to inspect the water heater for any possible
leaks. If you have a fireplace or gas logs take
time to inspect the damper for proper working
order. Have a chimney sweep clean and inspect
the flue. Stay warm this winter and as always if
you have any home related questions please give
me a call. Drew Howard, 434-660-3449.
With winter here I recommend
several steps to take: Disconnect all
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