Preparing Your Home for a Hard Freeze

Why it matters here

Homes in warmer climates are often built with pipes in exterior walls, attics and uninsulated spaces. That works fine most of the year, but a hard freeze can burst pipes, damage plants and leave households without power or heat.

Protect your pipes

• Insulate exposed pipes in the attic, garage, crawl space and along exterior walls.
• Wrap outdoor faucets and backflow preventers, and disconnect garden hoses.
• Know where your main water shut-off valve is, and make sure it turns easily.
• During a freeze, open cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls and let a slow drip run from vulnerable faucets.

Heat your home safely

Many home fires and carbon monoxide incidents happen when people improvise to stay warm.

• Never use a gas oven, grill or outdoor heater to heat indoor spaces.
• Keep space heaters well away from bedding, curtains and furniture, and plug them directly into the wall.
• Run generators outdoors only, well away from windows and doors.
• Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms before cold weather arrives.

Seal drafts

Weatherstripping, door sweeps and caulk around windows help hold heat in during cold snaps, and they keep cool air in during summer too. Drafty, failing windows may be worth replacing.

Protect the yard

Cover tender plants with frost cloth, move potted plants into the garage, and water landscaping before a freeze, since moist soil holds heat better than dry soil. Native and well-adapted plants usually recover best.

Have a household plan

• Keep flashlights, batteries, blankets, water and a first-aid kit together.
• Charge phones and backup batteries ahead of the storm.
• Check on neighbors who may need help.

Our fire safety service can review alarms and escape routes, and our windows service can help you seal out the cold.