The HeatTrak Homeowner Blog

Are You and Your Family Prepared for Winter Storm Season? Six Questions to Ask Yourself

AccuWeather is predicting above-average snowfall for the East Coast this winter, and a long winter for the entire U.S. What this means is: if you haven’t already done so, now is the time to get rea...

How to 'Keep up with the Joneses' This Winter

When your neighbors find ways to manage winter weather that you might not have thought of, it could be more than a case of envy or curiosity that makes you take note. “Keeping up with the Joneses” ...

How to Deal with Black Ice at Your Home

If you live in a cold climate, black ice on your driveway, sidewalks, walkways, and home entry areas is a serious winter problem. This nearly invisible hazard can make walking and driving treachero...

The Cold, Hard, Ugly Truth about Shoveling Snow

Approximately 11,500 snow-shoveling related injuries occur in the United States each year, 95 percent of them occurring at or near the injured person's home. While more than 20 percent of such inju...

What to Do in a Winter Power Outage

Power outages are an inconvenience at any time of year, but when combined with bitterly cold outdoor temperatures and/or a winter snow storm, the inconvenience can become a danger. Preparing for a ...

Keeping Your Home Energy Efficient, Eco-friendly, and Environmentally Safe this Winter

With the rising costs of electricity and home-heating fuels, homeowners are more concerned than ever before about maintaining an energy efficient home. Concerns for safety and for the environment ...

How to Shovel Snow on a Gravel Driveway

Gravel is a popular material for driveways, and if maintained properly it will last for many years. It can be a much less expensive option for long driveways and, unlike costly repairs to concrete...

Winter Fire Safety Tips For Your Home

More home fires occur during the winter than at any other time of year, and many of these fires result in extensive property damage, severe burns and respiratory problems, and even in the death o...

How to De-Ice Your Steps and Walkways

During the winter months, safe passage to and from your home isn’t just important, it’s crucial. Walking over snow-covered surfaces anywhere can be challenging and dangerous, but when you add in t...

What Type of Snow Melt is Safe for Concrete?

Concrete and snow are a tricky combination during the winter months, and keeping walkways and driveways clear is a priority when it comes to maintaining safe passage to and from your home. Accumul...

How to Ice-Proof Your Stairs for a Safer Winter

Ice and snow come hand in hand during the winter months. While it would be nice to prevent the inevitability of ice from gathering at all around your home, that could be a pretty daunting if not im...

How to Avoid Common Winter Liability Issues On Your Home's Property

Winter brings with it some legitimate concerns for the safety of your family and of your building due to extreme weather events that may arise. It also, however, brings another kind of concern- a ...

The Best Ways to Spend a Snow Day When You're No Longer a Kid

  I know--you’re probably thinking, “Adults don’t get snow days.” But that’s not so true anymore. As the record snowfall of the last several years has demonstrated, offices do close, roads ar...

The Best Ways to Spend a Snow Day With Your Kids

There was no better feeling than being a kid, and waking up to a window full of snow and my mom telling me that school was closed.   On a lot of those days, my parents had to work, and my sister...