Skip to Content

Prepare Your Rental for Polar Vortexes

Chowchilla Man Adding Insulation to AtticHarsh winter weather is natural in several northern areas. But even states with milder winters can get hit with excessive cold from time to time. As intense weather and climate events continue to increase, Chowchilla rental property owners need to know how to get their rental homes protected when the next polar vortex strikes.

There is a wide variety of options 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 simplest ways to get ready for an extreme cold weather event is to enlist your tenants to help you. Perhaps the ideal approach to prevent pipes from freezing and bursting (and flooding your rental property!) is to leave the water dripping at all times. Give your tenants an example and explain how to run the taps in your rental house during a cold-weather event.

In addition, it is necessary to teach your resident where the main water shut-off valve is located and how to operate it. In the occurrence of a water leak, you can avoid massive damage by getting the water turned off sooner rather than later. To conclude, protect hose bibs and other exposed plumbing by covering them with insulation or pipe wraps. Employing these straightforward steps makes it is generally possible to keep the water on and your rental property free of water damage even during a severe cold snap.

Medium Projects

If you’ve got the small projects in hand but want to take the next step, there are a couple of additional projects that can have a great impact on how well your rental property outlasts the next cold weather event. Consider installing double-pane windows if your rental house doesn’t already have them.

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 comfortable. Moreover, your rental home may definitely benefit 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 minor improvements in energy efficiency can have a huge influence on your utility bill – not to mention your tenant’s comfort levels.

Large Projects

To get your rental house as secure as it can be for extreme cold weather, there are also a few large projects that, if possible, will dramatically improve your property’s performance. For example, if you’ve been using electric heat, try switching to natural gas. On the whole, natural gas furnaces are more efficient and easier 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 try is to add insulation to your rental property’s attic, walls, or foundation. This might be especially critical if your rental property is older or has never been updated since insulation standards have changed over the years. It’s a good idea to inspect your property’s current insulation levels and increase them if low. Numerous kinds 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 approaches you can take to get your rental house ready in the event of a polar vortex. With extreme weather on the rise, the best way to be prepared is to start getting your rental house ready long before the cold arrives.

 

Would you want further tips on getting your rental property ready for the future? Real Property Management Valley Wide can help! Our professional Chowchilla property managers engage with property investors like you to help you maximize the potential of your investment property. To learn more, contact us online or call at 209-722-7761 today!

We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.

The Neighborly Done Right Promise

The Neighborly Done Right Promise ® delivered by Real Property Management, a proud Neighborly company

When it comes to finding the right property manager for your investment property, you want to know that they stand behind their work and get the job done right – the first time. At Real Property Management we have the expertise, technology, and systems to manage your property the right way. We work hard to optimize your return on investment while preserving your asset and giving you peace of mind. Our highly trained and skilled team works hard so you can be sure your property's management will be Done Right.

Canada excluded. Services performed by independently owned and operated franchises.

See Full Details