Don’t let a cold snap break your HOA budget in two! Failing to winterize your grounds properly can result in costly damages.

Winter weather creates special challenges for HOA managers because storms, freezing temperatures, and moisture can damage property, create safety hazards, and interrupt service.

Moreover, residents are looking forward to cozy nights instead of cold-weather chaos. A good HOA winterization checklist is essential. Take a look at must-have items for your HOA’s winterization checklist that will help you get through the winter without hassles.

Prioritize Pipes

A frozen pipe can cause severe damage to property. Frozen water can rupture pipes and sewage systems to create wet, unhygienic messes that stir up mold issues, foundational issues, and catastrophic structural damage. While repairing frozen pipes can be hugely expensive, preventing frozen pipes is both easy and cheap. Here’s what pipe winterization should entail:

• Drain water from sprinkler systems.
• Drain and seal outdoor pools.
• Add insulation, tarps, or thermal padding to exterior/exposed pipes.
• Keep attics, basements, crawl spaces, and storage spaces properly heated.

All water lines should also be inspected prior to winter. In addition to turning off all external water spigots, HOA managers should also ensure that all hoses are properly stored away for the season.

It’s important for air-conditioning hoses and pipes tied to an HVAC system to be drained. While conducting this essential maintenance, HOA managers should also look for any pooling water around the property that could indicate a leak that will cause problems once weather conditions turn frozen.

Trim Shrubs and Trees Branches

Don’t let the pretty foliage around your community turn dangerous in the winter months. Winter weather can cause tree branches to crack. Trim any dangling branches that could fall on cars, homes, sheds, and people during windy, icy, or snowy conditions.

Moreover, overgrown foliage can cast shadows over roads and walkways to cause slippery conditions when inclement weather hits.

Inspect Electrical Breakers

Wintertime usually signals the end of outdoor activities. As a result, electrical breakers that were supporting outdoor equipment all summer long may not be needed in the winter.

Turn off these breakers to prevent electrical overload during those chilly winter nights when keeping the power on is essential!

Plan Ahead for Snow Removal

Don’t get caught without a plan for snow removal. It’s common for panic to set in among residents at the first dusting of snow when roads and walkways aren’t being promptly plowed.

In addition to leaving room in the budget for snow removal, HOA managers should also have a contract in place with a snow-removal company. Ice-melting products, sand, shovels, and other snow essentials should be ready and waiting for snow days.

Keep Your HOA Community Safe This Winter With Goodwin & Company

More than 900 communities trust Goodwin & Company for their association management needs precisely because they know how much residents value cozy, worry-free winters.

The stakes are high when temperatures go low. Property damage, injuries, and expensive repairs can stain how HOA management is handled. Contact us today to learn about the benefits of working with trusted, esteemed HOA management professionals!

We’ve been helping Texas HOAs manage all their winterization needs since 1978 and are ready to help you!