With winter rapidly approaching, we should all re-familiarize ourselves with the City of Lennox’s snow and ice removal ordinances. Municipal Ordinance 6.03 talks about the duty of the owner, tenant or person in possession of any property in the City with sidewalks to remove any accumulated snow and ice within twenty-four (24) hours after termination of any snowfall. Residents should also not deposit any snow or ice within or upon any public street, sidewalk, or alley or in a manner that will obstruct or interfere with vehicle or foot traffic. And do not forget the sidewalk curb ramps if you are on a corner lot. Do keep the snow around your mailbox clear. If you have a fire hydrant adjacent to your property, that should be kept clear of snow as well to assist firefighters in case of an emergency.
Keeping the sidewalks clear of ice and snow can help prevent accidents or injuries. There are people in the community that utilize the public sidewalks to get to work, if they work inside Lennox, or children using the sidewalks to get to school. Or it just may be someone that likes to go for a walk after work or walk their dog. Individuals with disabilities, either with a wheelchair, walker, cane etc., can find navigating uncleared sidewalks a challenge or near impossible to do.
On the building side, you can prepare your home or business for winter with a simple checklist.
1. Check out your heating system and perform a tune-up, if necessary. Make sure the vents outside your home are clear and periodically check them throughout the winter as we get more snowfall. This can include your furnace, boiler, fireplace, chimney etc. Per the 2021 IPMC Section 602, all habitable rooms in buildings in our area should have a heating system capable of providing at least 68 degrees. Office spaces have to maintain a minimum temperature of 65 degrees. This temperature has to be maintained with a primary heat source, with gas-fired furnaces being the most commonly used. Electric space heaters do not satisfy this requirement as they are considered supplementary heat sources.
2. Inspect to see if you have adequate insulation in your attic and walls. If your home or business is not well-insulated, this can lead to high heating bills. If needed, consider insulating any pipes in unheated areas to prevent them from freezing. For insulation for the rest of the house, a rough estimate is to have 16”-20” of blown in insulation to meet R-value (R-60) in your attic. Wall insulation will be determined on the construction (2x4 vs 2x6 construction). R-Value can range from R-13 – R-19, typically. New construction homes are required to meet these R-Values for insulation, but it can be a good idea for older homes to try to meet them to help save money on utility bills.
3. A few other items:
Inspect your roof for damaged or missing shingles.
If applicable, check and clean chimney or wood stove pipe.
Check for drafts around windows and doors. apply with manufacturer's recommended caulk around worn seals. Replace any damaged weatherstripping.
Clean your gutters and downspouts to help prevent water damage issues such as ice dams during the winter. Clean gutters and downspouts will assist in the eventual thaw in the spring.
Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and replace batteries, if needed. Making sure the carbon monoxide detector is working is especially important when using gas-fired furnaces or fireplaces.
Reverse the direction of your ceiling fans to force warm air down into the room.
Stock up on winter supplies such as salt or sand for your driveway, walkway, or sidewalk. Prepare an emergency kit with items such as flashlights, batteries, candles, matches, bottled water, dry food, and blankets in case of a power outage.