Don’t let freezing winter weather ruin the cozy season. Burst pipes, chimney fires and HVAC failures can occur during cold spells and winter storms, which can often lead to significant damage with repair costs to match. 

While it’s a problem year-round, it’s even more important to prep your home before a major snowstorm. With temperatures dropping across the US and heavy snowfall expected for much of the country, now is the perfect time to prepare your home to withstand all kinds of winter weather.

To help you ready your home or apartment, I consulted TJ Laury, an HVAC expert and president of Ben’s ProServ, for essential winter home safety tips for a comprehensive guide to help you inspect and winterize any home.

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1. Winterize your HVAC system

Barring extreme circumstances, most winter-related issues typically do not appear without warning.

We tend to think of HVAC systems mostly as the machines we use for indoor climate control, such as heaters and air conditioners. However, your HVAC system also requires vents, doors, windows and insulation to function properly.

Unfamiliar sights, sounds and smells in your HVAC equipment are the clearest signs that maintenance is necessary. For example, Laury says that rattling and noises can mean deeper issues with your system.

If your heating system doesn’t show any of the signs above, Laury suggests looking out for drafts and uneven heating in your home. These often indicate that your system isn’t running efficiently. Although you can spot drafts without a thermal camera, it’s a helpful tool for finding places where cold air enters your home.

Winter HVAC to-dos for everyone (including renters):

• Wipe off radiators and baseboard heaters before turning them on.
• Use a window insulator kit on single-pane windows and unused windows.
• Adjust your thermostat to heat instead of cool.
• Turn off your air conditioner when the outdoor temperature dips below 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Reverse ceiling fan directions.
• Open curtains for solar heating during the day and close them at night for greater heat retention.

For homeowners and landlords:

• Replace your furnace filter ahead of turning on the furnace for the season.
• Clean out fireplaces, chimneys, flues and wood-burning stoves before use.
• While you can seal unused fireplaces and chimneys for better heat retention, remember to unseal them if you change your mind midwinter.
• Recaulk, repair or replace weatherstripping around doors and windows as needed.
• Cover your air conditioner.
• Check attic insulation and replace old exterior doors.

2. Winterize your pipes and plumbing

Frozen pipes can burst — leading to expensive flooding and dangerous mold.

Visibly cracked and leaky pipes might seem like a no-brainer, but some leaks are so small that you can’t see them at a glance. In these cases, it’s essential to look for mineral buildup and corrosion on exposed pipes — these sometimes hint toward a more minor leak.

Sweaty pipes — those with condensation on the outside — are another thing to watch for. It could be a sign of excessive humidity in your home, providing a perfect breeding ground for mold.

Winter plumbing to-dos for everyone (including renters):

• Remove and drain garden hoses.
• Set up leak detectors in high-risk areas.

For homeowners and landlords:

• Wrap exposed pipes in insulation.
• Insulate areas prone to condensation buildup to prevent the growth of mold and mildew.
• Cover outdoor spigots.
• Turn off sprinkler systems and clear water from the lines — particularly in extreme cold.
• Check your sump pump.

3. Winterize your electrical cords and wiring

Checking surge protectors is as easy as pressing the “test” button to see if the power is cut off.

Be aware of two common issues with your home’s electrical system: damaged wiring and overloaded outlets. As with other areas of your home, preventing fire hazards is sensible throughout the year.

While tearing off the drywall is a step too far for finding damaged wiring, it’s always worth checking exposed wiring, including cords, power strips, extension cords and string lights. In addition to visible nicks and missing prongs, look for cords that lose power when bent at a specific angle. This often means a broken wire inside.

Overloaded outlets pose a fire hazard, especially when used with space heaters. Remember that space heaters and extension cords (and power strips) don’t get along, so plan to keep an open outlet on the wall receptacle where you’ll plug in a heater. You might need to move other devices to a different outlet or a power strip. Likewise, keep clutter away from your space heaters.

Beyond space heater safety, you should also avoid daisy-chaining surge protectors and extension cords — such as plugging extra power strips into a central power strip. This isn’t just a fire hazard but also a tripping hazard. It’s much better to invest in a single large power strip with the outlets and protection you need rather than trying to make your own from a collection of cheaper, smaller strips.

Winter electrical to-dos for everyone (including renters):

• Clear space heater surroundings and ensure direct access to a dedicated wall outlet.
• Use electrical tape to repair minor cord damage — as long as the interior insulation is intact.
• Use appropriately-sized power strips and surge protectors.
• Replace worn-out cords and surge protectors.
• Check the lights, fuses and wires of string lights.

For homeowners and landlords:

• Replace worn-out, loose wall outlets.
• Inspect outdoor electrical outlets to ensure they have sufficient weatherproofing seals.
• Trim trees near your house and power lines.

Other winterizing tasks

Functional fire safety equipment, such as fire extinguishers and smoke detectors, is essential to any winter checklist.

Some winter weather safety tips don’t neatly fit into HVAC, plumbing or electrical categories but are important considerations for keeping your home free of potential hazards.

Other pre-winter essentials for everyone (including renters):

• Check fire extinguishers.
• Test every smoke detector and carbon monoxide alarm.
• Get snow shovels out of storage and inspect them for damage — top up your ice melt supplies before the cold weather rolls in.

For homeowners and landlords:

• Evaluate the roof, exterior walls and foundation for damage.
• Clean out rain gutters.

4. Plan for emergencies with a bug-out bag

Every winter safety strategy should also account for possible emergencies. The best way to do this is to assemble a bug-out bag for a power outage at home, but you can also use it as a car emergency kit.

Laury suggests keeping a portable propane heater and storing it outside the home whenever possible. You may need to open the windows for good ventilation to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, even if it compromises heating efficiency.

It’s also possible to set up temporary emergency heaters — be mindful of placing heat sources near flammable objects and surfaces. Having a backup heater isn’t just for comfort — the heat can help delay pipes from freezing during a winter storm.

Laury says to prepare a “bag filled with practical items: flashlights, extra batteries, blankets, bottled water and three days’ worth of nonperishable food for each person. Also, keep a charged power bank handy in case you need to charge important items, such as a phone, in case of an emergency.” Likewise, you could invest in a portable generator or portable power station.

Your winter weather preparedness checklist and emergency kit are essential for staying safe in cold temperatures, even in the event of a power outage.

When to get a professional inspection

An HVAC technician appointment is a reliable way to prep your home for the winter season.

Laury recommends that most homeowners schedule a seasonal maintenance check at least once a year. He notes that “professionals can often detect small issues before they become a bigger problem and save the homeowner from having to spend a lot of money on a more serious issue.”

Even if you don’t opt for a comprehensive maintenance package, professionals are generally the best option for chimney cleaning. Although some HVAC services offer chimney cleaning and inspection, you might need to find a chimney cleaner instead. You can also get a home energy audit from most utility companies to find ways to maximize winter heating efficiency.

If you’re a renter, the responsibility to inspect and maintain your home usually rests on the landlord, though they sometimes delegate simpler tasks to tenants. Never schedule outside inspections or maintenance without your landlord’s permission. (There might already be a maintenance team on the job.) For example, my property manager supplies new furnace filters, sends out winter safety tips and has a maintenance request form.

Regardless, everyone can save a little cash with three DIY steps: inspection, seasonal maintenance and emergency preparation. Begin by setting aside time to check your home for HVAC, plumbing, electrical and structural warning signs.