Are You Prepared for a Severe Winter?

Emily Fazio

January 7, 2024 at 9:54 PM·7 min read

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With many parts of the country expected to have extreme cold temperatures and bad winter weather this year, it's important to do your part to prepare your home, property, and vehicles.

"As someone who has properties in both New Jersey and upstate New York, I know firsthand how an intense winter can be a huge stressor (and a financial shock) for homeowners if their spaces are unprepared for the change in temperature," shares Anthony Carrino, home improvement expert and partner at Trane Residential. "Winter storms bring heavy snowfall, strong winds, and colder-than-normal temperatures. With these extreme weather conditions, it’s essential to be proactive and take some critical steps to prepare your home to keep your family warm and safe."

He adds, "When creating your winter home improvement checklist, I have a few cardinal rules that I stand by, especially when we know the winter is going to be an intense one."

Follow Anthony's lead, and make a plan to get your home and property ready for a severe winter:

1. Schedule an HVAC Inspection

"The colder it gets, the busier the most qualified HVAC technicians become with appointments. So don’t wait until it’s too late. Prioritize making a seasonal maintenance check with your local dealer, like a Trane Comfort Specialist. When they come out to your property, they can share ways to save money, including eco rebates, special financing options, tax credits, and more depending on where you live, the type, size, and age of your system."

Should I upgrade by HVAC before winter?

"If you need a repair or a replacement ahead of this winter season, I tell homeowners to follow the 5K rule," advises Carrino. "The $5,000 rule is an industry-accepted rule for determining whether to repair or replace an HVAC system. Multiply the age of your equipment by its estimated repair cost. If the outcome is less than $5,000, you should repair it. If it is more than $5,000, you should replace it. If your current system is 10 years old or older, you may be able to save more than $500 a year in energy costs if you upgrade to a more energy-efficient system."

Maintain your AC unit before winter.<p>Trane</p> — Maintain your AC unit before winter.
Trane

2. Check Your Home’s Insulation and Seals

"If your attic or crawlspace isn’t properly insulated, your heating system must work harder to keep it at a consistently comfortable temperature. The more your system runs, the more it costs you. If you live up north where it gets really cold, try adding weather stripping and extra insulation to your garage door. It can make a big difference," advises Carrino.

If you have them, you should also install storm windows and glass storm doors. They serve as an extra line of defense against wind and cold. Additionally, check for air that leaks through cracks under doors and around your windows. Weather stripping is essential for helping your home retain its heat during the winter.

3. Change Your Air Filters

A clean air filter not only helps reduce airborne particles, viruses, and seasonal allergens, but it also helps the HVAC system function more efficiently, reduce noise levels and energy consumption, ultimately reducing utility bills. "Standard replacement is every three months, but consider replacing your indoor air filter even more frequently if you have pets, are remodeling, live with a smoker or have a fan that runs continuously,” shares Andy Fox, Indoor Air Quality Specialist at 3M.

4. Ready Your Vehicles

Give it a check-up. Ensure your vehicle is winter-ready by checking the antifreeze levels, exhaust pipe, tire (and spare tire) tread, and pressure. Replace the windshield wipers if necessary. Consider using winter tires for better traction.
Make an emergency supply kit. Keep an emergency kit in your vehicle, including a blanket, flashlight, extra batteries, non-perishable snacks, water, and a first aid kit.
Move a tool kit to the trunk. Put the snow shovel, windshield scraper, snow brush, booster cables/jumper cables, a battery-powered flashlight, a tire repair kit, and some sand or cat litter in your vehicle. (You'll need the sand or kitty litter for traction if you get stuck.)
Have it waxed. "Snow, slush, and salt take a heavy toll on your vehicle," shares Edgar Corona, senior marketing manager at PLZ Corp, makers of Sprayway auto products. "Waxing your car provides a protective layer to help combat scrapes and knicks in your paint from road salt or ice."
Add rubber floor mats and protect the interior. "Inside your car, change out your carpet floor mats for rubber ones to prevent wear and staining. I also recommend detailing the interior with a product like Sprayway Auto Interior Detailer High Gloss to keep leather seats, dashboard and other surfaces resistant to the effects of any wintery mess that gets inside," adds Corona.
Add a set of outerwear and dry, warm clothing to your vehicle. Wet clothing can kill during the winter. Avoid hypothermia and frostbite. You'll never know when you need a layer of warm clothes or a layer of rain gear to raise your body temperature or prevent a loss of feeling in your hands and toes.
Keep an extra gas tank in the garage. You never know when you need a full tank of gas to fuel a gas-powered generator during an ice storm, or wish you had a better fuel supply for your snowblower.
Swap on your snow tires for added traction.

5. Insulate Your Hot Water Tank

Check water valves, wrap pipes with insulation, drain sentiment build-up, and winterize any systems that are in vacant properties to prevent frozen pipes.

6. Consider Buying a Generator or a Second Heating Source

"Since winter storms often cause power outages, it is a clever idea to have a battery (or generator) powered thermostat to maintain optimal climate control. [You may also want to have] an alternative heating source, such as a portable space heater or a fireplace," says Carrino. "These can provide warmth and comfort until your HVAC system is repaired or power is restored."

7. Upgrade Your Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Be vigilant about the dangers of fire and carbon monoxide poisoning. The best thing to do is install combination smoke/carbon monoxide alarms throughout your home, especially near living areas and bedrooms. Dangerous levels of this toxic gas can lead to death. Already have them installed? Change the batteries!

8. Set Up a Zoning System

"During cold weather it can be hard to control and maintain the temperature within your home. By utilizing a zoning system, which allows you to set unique temperatures throughout different parts of your home, you can make sure that the most utilized rooms in the house and comfortable. I use this type of system in my Catskills home, and it has been great," shares Carrino.

9. Be Prepared for Ice and Snow

Purchase ice melt or rock salt for use when you need it most, but be very cautious about what you use around pets. "It’s important to note that de-icing salts are not only toxic when ingested but are paw irritants as well," shares Dr. Hunter Finn, partner of MetLife Pet Insurance, veterinarian, and owner of the Pet Method in McKinney, TX. "Similarly, anti-freeze containing ethylene glycol is extremely poisonous. Symptoms of ingestion include panting, vomiting, and convulsions. Look for anti-freeze with propylene glycol as a safer choice."
Get a contract for a snowplow service, or identify a local company you can call when you need help. There's no point in pushing yourself to shovel deep snow in the extreme cold—that's how people have sudden heart attacks and experience heart failure.
Buy a roof rake. Remove heavy snow from the edges of your roof. This helps prevent ice dams and shingle damage.
Tune up your snowblower. Put the tire chains on if you use them.

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