Lingering zero-degree weather challenges property managers concerned about freezing weather rental preparation. Property managers should be proactive and tell their tenants what to do when freezing weather is forecasted. Many tasks are simple, but if not followed, they can create havoc for renters and cause severe property damage. DenCO Property Management (DenCO) uses email to warn its leaseholders of upcoming deep freezes.
Outdoor Faucets
It is common for people to water their landscape in the fall and forget to detach hoses from outdoor faucets. During a hard freeze, ice forms in the attached hose and follows the pipe into the home’s interior, sometimes bursting pipes. All is fine until the interior pipe thaws and water fills low spots like basements. Property managers should detach all hoses from faucets during their fall rental inspection. They should recommend their owners install frost-proof sillcocks for all outdoor faucets that tend to freeze in cold weather. The valve mechanism of these faucets is located approximately twelve inches inside the house, making it less likely to freeze.
Do Not Turn Off the Heat
Sometimes, polar plunges hit Denver. It is a nice day; then temperatures fall dramatically into the teens or below zero. Tenants leaving for several days must keep their furnaces on with their thermostats set at 65. Extreme cold can penetrate homes and freeze pipes, so keeping the heat on during winter is necessary.
Extremely Cold Nights
When temperatures drop below zero, indoor fixtures should be left dripping. Tenants should also leave cabinet doors under sinks open on frigid nights to allow warm air to circulate, preventing freezing. If pipes freeze, tenants should use hairdryers to melt the ice safely. Applying open flames to a frozen pipe is not recommended because it is a fire hazard.
Power Outages
If the rental loses power, the tenant should report the outage to Xcel Energy. Then, call DenCO about the situation.
Deep Freeze, Dead Furnace
When it gets cold, some furnaces continuously run and break down. No heat on a cold day is a significant inconvenience for tenants, particularly ones with young children or pets. Tenants should call DenCO immediately and inform the property manager about the situation. We will send out a handymen or call a local heating company to to get the heat back on.
Deep Snow
The City of Denver expects all sidewalks to be cleared of snow 24 hours after the snow stops. Tenants are responsible for shoveling their sidewalks. The City can fine property owners or tenants $150 for unshoveled walks. Renters who do not have the tools, a snowblower, or the strength to remove deep snow should hire a snow removal service themselves.
If tenants notice that their furnace is trying to start up but is not turning on, it might be because the intake vent is not clear. A clogged vent poses a significant risk because incomplete combustion can cause carbon monoxide accumulation. Renters should remove snow inside the vent and push any snow and ice away from the intake and exhaust pipes.
DenCO is here for owners when they decide to put their investments under expert management. DenCO manages over 150 homes, duplexes, and apartment rentals in the DU, Washington Park, and other Denver neighborhoods and has been in business since 1990. Call us at 303-722-9688 or click here to complete a Contact Us form.
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