Preparing your house for extreme cold weather is essential to ensure your home is safe and warm throughout the winter. With proper preparation, you can minimize the risk of damage to your home and avoid costly repairs. You should also have an emergency plan in case of power outages or other unexpected events. This guide provides step-by-step instructions on how to prepare your house for cold weather, plus tips for maintaining your home’s safety and comfort.
How Do I Prepare My House For Extreme Cold Weather?
What’s Happening With the Weather?
When preparing your home for weather changes, one of the most important things is to know what’s happening with the weather. The weather reports from websites like Accuweather, inform you of any drastic changes in the coming days or weeks.
A detailed weather report can tell you the approximate temperature range and other conditions (e.g., rain or snow) you might have to deal with.
Know the upcoming weather conditions before you shell out any money or time to prepare your house for it. Blind preparation costs a lot of money and often doesn’t give you the protection you need.
Roof Preparation
Your home’s roof is the first area you should prepare for if you expect freezing temperatures, snow, or ice. A roof is the first place that takes the impact of freezing weather. Your roof also takes the weight of heavy snow and can pose a danger to the home’s occupants.
The roof also experiences heat loss. You can prevent excessive heat loss by adequately insulating the roof. Small structural changes might be required if your home isn’t prepared for the weight of snow and ice.
Prepare The Gutters
Always clean your gutters and ensure they are free of leaves, twigs, bird nests, or debris before colder weather arrives. Ice dams in gutters can form from poor insulation and clogs. It’s possible to cheaply insulate most of a roof to prepare against winter storms and the potential for heat loss.
If the gutters are not working properly, they can damage your home by:
- Cause water to leak inside
- Loosen shingles
- Break the gutters
Sometimes, hiring a local roofing professional to tackle this job is best.
Inside the House
The roof isn’t the only place where preparation for freezing winter weather can be necessary.
Doors and Windows
Doors and windows can leave your home susceptible to frigid winter weather. The home has a lot of gaps where cold air gets in and warm air escapes. If not adequately insulated and sealed, hot and cold air seep through windows and doors. Seal gaps around the windows and doors with weather stripping.
Homes should also have a layer of insulation between the inside and outside, though many homes do not. If your home has notorious cold spots, look closer at your windows and doors. Reseal your windows and doors if you spot an air leak, and see if the natural temperature in your house has a chance to rise.
Ceiling Fans
Another helpful tip is to set your ceiling fan to rotate clockwise at a low speed to help circulate warm air. Your room will feel warmer without raising the heat.
If not, consider replacing your old windows and doors to stay warm and save money on your heating bill.
Outside the Home
Windows and Doors
Once someone takes care of the inside of the house and the roof, it’s time to prepare the outside for winter. Check windows and doors outside of the home for any signs of cracks or holes that would let cold air in. You’ll feel it more in cold winter weather, so you’ll want to take care of it sooner rather than later.
The Garden
You must tend to your gardens to protect your plants and soil against extreme cold weather.
Here are a few ways to protect your garden through winter conditions:
- Mulch around plants and trees for insulation
- Cover plants with frost cloth to protect them from cold or frost
- Build a cold frame or greenhouse to protect against winter conditions
Lastly, unplug garden hoses, close the shut-off valve to the sprinkler system, and drain them. This is essential to prevent pipes from freezing. Frozen pipes can burst when the temperatures drop below freezing.
Discount Window and Door of Omaha
At Discount Window and Door of Omaha, we are committed to providing the best quality doors and replacement windows. We employ the most skilled installers to ensure the highest standard of quality service. Our Omaha door and window installers are highly trained, certified industry professionals with years of experience, including some second and third-generation employees.