I grew up in northern Ohio near Lake Erie where winterizing your home is a necessity. As well as keeping cold air out and warm air in, a huge part of this process involves preventative maintenance – something my dad has always been very serious about (he preached about the importance of routine automobile oil changes on a regular basis also).
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When we were kids, my brothers and I helped with many of the winterization chores. Though I didn’t especially enjoy them at the time, as an adult the knowledge has definitely come in handy over the years.
A couple of weeks ago I visited some friends who just bought a house out on Long Island. Neither of them has ever owned a house before and both grew up in apartments in the city.
“Yeah, so our pipes froze last week,” one of them said, “We had no idea we were supposed to leave a faucet dripping to prevent that.” Then we proceeded to have a conversation about all the house maintenance things (especially the ones pertaining to winterizing) they were learning about (yay for YouTube videos). The good news is that most of these maintenance tasks are not difficult – as long as you know to do them.
So, for all new homeowners and people who didn’t grow up with a dad like mine, here’s a list of how to winterize your home.
Exterior
Check your roof to make sure no shingles are loose or missing. Clean all gutters and downspouts. If you’re not a fan of gutter cleaning (and who really is?) install gutter guards which will keep most debris out.
Check for any cracks in the foundation and around windows and doors and fill them if needed. Make sure there is adequate insulation in your attic and/or crawlspace if you have them.
Install weather stripping around doors and windows if you don’t have it, as well as door sweeps. This will prevent cold air from seeping into your home.
Door sweeps are flexible pieces that attach to the bottom of your door.
Use caulk or spray foam to fill any holes or cracks you find in the foundation and if your home is made from brick or stone, in the exterior walls.
Interior
As well as door seals, door sweeps, and window weather stripping, caulk around baseboards and crown moulding anywhere you feel a draft.
Set any ceiling fans to a counterclockwise rotation to send warm air downward.
Right before winter sets in is also an excellent time to check your furnace for any leaks or cracks as well as replace the filter. Consider installing a programmable thermostat so you can set a lower temperature while sleeping or during times when no one is home.
Heating Sources
Speaking of heating, if your main source is electrical, consider having a supplemental, alternative source in the event of a power outage. I grew up with a natural gas furnace as well as a wood-burning stove so, even if the electricity was out, the house was still warm.
There are heaters available that use kerosene, propane, natural gas, wood, or wood pellets. Many homeowners also invest in a generator that will run enough electricity to their homes for essentials if there is a disruption or downed power lines. My friends’ house out on Long Island came with a backup propane generator for these kinds of emergencies.
My parents always kept a couple of kerosene heaters around for use in the finished basement where my brothers’ rooms were.
During the 80s there was a spike in natural gas prices so my dad decided to heat the house predominantly by the fireplace. He set the indoor thermostat to 53 degrees and installed a wood-burning stove enclosure.
We kept a huge firewood pile in the backyard which we had the good fortune to be able to cut down from the woods on my grandparents’ property. Wood chopping expeditions to grandma’s house were a regular event throughout my childhood. I loved growing up with a wood-burning stove as our main source of heat. The experience also means that I’m very good at building fires, operating chimney dampers (it is an art form), and keeping them going for very long periods of time; another skill that has been surprisingly useful in my adult life.
If you want to use wood to heat your home, make sure to store it at least 30 feet from the house and off the ground. Also, make sure to get your chimney cleaned professionally annually.
Plumbing
Frozen pipes, a common winter woe, have the potential to be costly. As most people know, water expands when it freezes. This means lots of frozen water in your pipes could cause them to crack or burst.
If you live somewhere with a true winter, your pipes likely will already be insulated but it’s a good idea to check for sure anywhere you have exposed lines (basements, crawlspaces, and exterior pipes). Cover any exposed areas with pipe wrap or tape which comes in rolls with a sticky side to adhere to the pipe.
Tubular insulation is another effective option
Tubular pipe covers come in sizes to fit different pipe diameters and have adhesive on the opening to secure it (it sticks to itself, closing the circle).
Outdoors, detach any garden hoses, and purchase insulated faucet covers to keep your spigots cozy. These covers are usually bags with a drawstring closure.
Some houses have a main shut valve for any exterior faucets. If yours does, turn it off for the winter and drain any water out from the pipes. You can also install automatic shut-off valves that turn off your water when a pressure change is detected – which is what happens if a pipe freezes.
Consider using smart water leak and temperature sensors that will send alerts via an app if a leak or a sudden rise or fall in temperature is detected.
This one from Resideo connects to your home wifi and sends mobile and audible alerts when leaks, freezes, or excess humidity are detected.
Fibaro manufactures a leak detector that is Apple Homekit enabled
As well as one designed for use with Android apps:
What to keep in a winter emergency kit
If you live in a place where there’s the possibility of getting snowed in for a few days, having an emergency kit on hand is a good idea. If possible, store enough supplies to last three days including non-perishable food, along with:
These candles fit inside lanterns and burn for nine hours.
But regular taper candles work just as well too if you have candle holders.
Batteries
There are also solar-powered hand crank radios equipped with USB chargers for emergencies. Perfect for both snowstorms and zombie apocalypses.
Don’t forget extra blankets and any medications, as well as games and activities to keep you and your family from going stir-crazy. Board games, cards, puzzles, and books are nice to have around in case (god forbid!) you can’t watch anything on a screen. One of my brothers and my favorite games was Clue - still available in its 1980s “retro” version.
With the right people and enough supplies, you may find that you’re in no hurry to dig out after a storm but, just in case, keep some ice melt or rock salt around. Then, taking another page from my dad’s playbook, arm your offspring with shovels and send them outdoors to clear the driveway.
That way you can finish your puzzle or book in peace.