Harsh winter weather is anticipated throughout many northern areas. But even states with milder winters can get hit with winter cold from time to time. As terrible weather and climate events continue to increase, West Richland rental property owners need to know how to get their rental homes prepared for when the next polar vortex strikes.
There are several strategies 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 quickest ways to get ready for an extreme cold weather event is to enlist your tenants to help you. One of the most effective measures 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 explanations on how to run the taps in your rental house during a cold-weather event.
Furthermore, it is vital to inform your resident where the main water shut-off valve is located and how to operate it. In the incidence 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. By utilizing these basic steps, it is usually simple to keep the water on and your rental property free of water damage even amid an extreme cold snap.
Medium Projects
If you’ve got the small projects in hand but want to take the next step, there are several additional projects that can play a major part in how well your rental property withstands the following 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 time when the furnace is already working overtime to keep things cozy. Similarly, your rental home may benefit significantly from more energy-efficient doors. For illustration, simply replacing a hollow-core exterior door for one that is insulated can dramatically improve energy efficiency. In cold temperatures, even minor improvements in energy efficiency can have a substantial difference in your utility bill – without including your tenant’s comfort levels.
Large Projects
There are several large projects that, if possible, will dramatically improve your property’s performance and get your rental house as ready as possible for extreme cold weather. For instance, if you’ve been consuming electric heat, think about switching to natural gas. As a whole, natural gas furnaces are more efficient and simpler on the budget than electric ones. Moreover, if the power does go out during a cold-weather event, your rental home will still have heat.
One more large project to undertake is to add insulation to your rental property’s attic, walls, or foundation. This might be extremely significant if your rental property is older or has never been updated since insulation standards have improved over the years. It is important 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 disturbing of 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.
Do you need further tips on getting your rental property ready for the future? Real Property Management Tri-Cities can help! Our professional West Richland property managers work with property investors like you to help you maximize the potential of your investment property. To learn more, contact us online or call at 509-572-5440 today!
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