The HOME Show hosts discussed the recent ice storm aftermath, sharing personal stories and stressing the need for patience as crews clear side streets. They also debated the best time to shovel before the slush refreezes.

Steven Jefferson with Hickey Plumbing, Air and Electrical joined the show to discuss the rising demand for whole-home generators and compared them to portable generators. He offered critical maintenance advice for the extreme cold, warning homeowners never to "chunk" ice off a frozen heat pump. Steven also touched on how emergency or auxiliary heat works to help your HVAC unit.

Ashby Perrow and Thacher Jennings with Southern Landscape Group highlighted the importance of winter planning, noting that the "downtime" of January is the ideal time for homeowners to design outdoor living spaces and kitchens for the spring. They addressed concerns regarding de-icers, explaining that concentrated salts can dehydrate root systems and should be blown off turf as soon as the ice melts. For trees and shrubs weighed down by ice, Ashby advised against shaking the branches, suggesting instead that homeowners let the ice melt naturally to avoid snapping the limbs.

The HOME Show is presented by DoorTek Garage Door Service — the techs who do it best! Find them online at www.doortekva.com.