For many of us, winter means cold winds, frost, sub-zero temperatures, ice and snow. Severe winter weather can cause deterioration or even substantial damage to your house resulting in costly repairs. This section highlights examples of safety precautions you can consider to help prepare yourself, others and your personal property for a winter freeze. Please recognize that a particular precaution may not be appropriate or effective in every circumstance. We encourage you to use your own good judgment about what’s appropriate.

General Home Winter Preparation Checklist

• Insulate walls and attic. 

• Caulk and weather-strip doors and windows to cut down on wind drafts.

• Install storm windows or cover windows with plastic film from the inside. 

• Detach all gardening hoses and shut-off water supply to outside faucets.

• Install faucet covers to all external faucets.

• Tag the location of your main water valve and make sure you can easily turn it on and off.

• Remove snow build-up on your roof to avoid ice and   snow damage to the roof or interior of the home.

• Follow ice dam prevention tips to minimize ice dam formation on your roof.

• If you have a thermostat that uses a battery, be sure to replace it regularly.

• During power failures, disconnect your electrical   appliances to avoid damage from power surges which can occur once the power is restored.

• Follow precautionary steps; safeguard against your water pipes freezing.

• Follow home winter safety tips to protect yourself and others on your property.

• Keep connecting garage doors closed to help eliminate drafts.

HOT QUESTIONS ON COLD WEATHER FACTS 

Whether you're going to work, running errands or preparing kids for school, knowing the answers to the following questions can help make a difference on how prepared you and your family are when venturing outdoors.

What is a WINTER STORM WATCH?

When severe winter weather threatens your area, a Winter Storm Watch is generally given. If you plan to be outdoors for a long time period or plan to travel, be sure to keep an eye out for changing weather conditions.