Eight Home Maintenance Tasks to Help Prepare Your Home for Winter Storms
Ideally, a winter storm is just an inconvenience and annoyance, but winter weather can sometimes be dangerous for you and your home. As the season approaches, learn about the risk of winter storms in your area and understand the meaning and potential impact of different weather conditions (advice, watches and warnings) so you can respond quickly in the event of an emergency. You should also take steps to prepare your home for winter storms to reduce the likelihood of damage and danger.
Preparing for winter starts with a thorough inspection of your property, both inside and out, from top to bottom. Look for everything from roof leaks to door cracks and clogged gutters—anything that can lead to damage from snow, ice and cold temperatures. Create a repair and winterization plan to ensure your safety and comfort for the season. Here is a quick overview of the most important tasks that need to be taken care of.
Test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
This is something that should be part of your regular home maintenance, and is especially important when you regularly use your stove and fireplace (with both fire safety and indoor air quality in mind). Follow EPA guidelines on where to install CO detectors and how to inspect and maintain them; then review the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) smoke alarm guidelines. Make sure your fire extinguisher is handy and working.
Install an easy-to-read thermometer.
Any thermostat will tell you the room temperature, and if you have a smart system like Ecobee or Nest, you’ll have real-time data at your fingertips. The CDC also recommends installing easy-to-read thermometers in areas where you will see them frequently. This is especially important for older adults because our sense of temperature changes as we age, increasing the risk of cold-related health problems.
Eliminate drafts in windows and doors
Gaps around doors and windows create drafts in your home , which is inconvenient and wastes energy. Door gaskets , weather stripping, and caulk can be used to fill spaces where cold air penetrates. These are simple DIY repairs that will go a long way toward lowering your heating bills and keeping your home warm. If your home has older windows, floor-to-ceiling thermal curtains can also help with insulation even if you lose your heating.
Prepare your outdoor faucets for winter
Before the cold weather sets in, make sure your outdoor plumbing is prepared—frozen pipes can burst, causing extensive damage to your home. To winterize outdoor faucets , remove and store hoses, shut off outdoor water and drain pipes, cap them and insulate them with caps.
While you don’t need to fully winterize your interior plumbing unless your home will be vacant for an extended period of time, you should look for uninsulated pipes located in or near unheated areas and consider using insulating sleeves or thermal tape.
Check your oven
Turn on the oven and make sure it is working properly. Even if you don’t need to heat your home right now, you don’t want to rush into planning emergency repairs when it’s freezing outside. Look for common signs that your unit needs maintenance , such as unusual smells and noises, short cycling and no heating. Also replace the air filter.
Inspect and clean the fireplace
A fireplace or wood stove can provide warmth in an emergency. Just like your furnace, they require seasonal maintenance to avoid chemical buildup and ensure proper ventilation, which affects indoor air quality and overall safety. The NFPA recommends annual cleaning, which you can do yourself . However, if it’s been a while since your fireplace has been professionally inspected and cleaned, consider scheduling a chimney cleaning before lighting your first winter fire. You can find one online or ask your local fire department for a recommendation.
Stock up on snow
If snow falls in your area, make sure shovels are available and replenish ice melts. If you use a snow blower, inspect it thoroughly , replace any worn or damaged parts, change the oil, add fresh gasoline, and run it to make sure it works.
Top up your emergency kit
You should be prepared for storms at any time of year, keeping a stock of disaster supplies so you and your family (and pets) can survive without assistance for several days if necessary. We have a guide to creating an emergency kit if you don’t already have one, but you should also check all your supplies and replenish anything that’s been used or is missing. In winter , make sure you also have sleeping bags, warm blankets, and climate-appropriate changes of clothes and shoes.