Home Prep for Winter
Winter Prep is essential as colder weather approaches. As an insurance agency that covers your home and auto, we want to make sure those protections continue to serve you well throughout the winter months. With weather conditions becoming more extreme, it’s important not to take any chances. Here are some important winter prep tips to help your home and vehicle stay safe, protected, and ready for the season ahead.
Aside from all the Fall chores you have to do around the house, we have some more pressing matters for safety. Winter weather can bring harsh conditions that could keep you from leaving your home and cut off necessary resources. Here are a few winter prep tips to make sure you and your family are prepared at home.
Invest in a Backup Generator
When you truly depend on electricity, it needs to work. One of these times is during the winter. If your heat is electric, don’t risk it going out. You don’t want to be stuck in the cold and dark. Backup generators are not cheap, but they are a worthy investment.
Get a Roof Inspection
This item might also be on your fall maintenance list. Make it a priority! When snow falls onto your roof, you’ll want to make sure it doesn’t end up as an ice bank or causing any leaks. This inspection should also include your gutters, as they play an important role in directing melted ice water away from the house.
Store Extra Food
Winter storms and icy road conditions can sometimes leave you stuck at home longer than expected. That’s why it’s important to have non-perishable food items that can sustain your household for at least a week. Stock up on essentials like canned goods, dry foods, and easy-to-prepare meals that don’t require extensive cooking.
Don’t forget to store enough bottled water as well—plan for at least one gallon per person per day. It’s also a good idea to include items like snacks, pet food, and any dietary-specific necessities your family may need.
Having these supplies on hand ensures you’re prepared, comfortable, and not forced to venture out in unsafe conditions during severe winter weather.
Build Emergency Kits
If you don’t already have a winter prep emergency kit for each family member, now is the time to put one together. These kits—often called “go bags”—should include enough supplies to help you safely get through several days if you’re without power or unable to leave your home.
Be sure to include essentials like non-perishable food, water, flashlights, extra batteries, medications, blankets, and basic first aid supplies. It’s also important to regularly check and rotate out items like food, water, and batteries to ensure everything is fresh and ready when you need it.
Store your emergency kits in an easily accessible location so everyone in your household knows where to find them quickly in case of an emergency.
Insulate Your Home
If you haven’t already, use caulking and weatherstripping to seal gaps around windows and doors and keep cold air from entering your home—especially during those bitter winter days. This simple step not only improves comfort but also increases energy efficiency and can significantly reduce your heating costs throughout the season.
In addition, take time to properly insulate your pipes, particularly in unheated areas like basements, garages, and crawl spaces. Exposed pipes are more vulnerable to freezing temperatures, which can lead to bursts and costly water damage. You may also want to let faucets drip during extreme cold and keep cabinet doors open to allow warm air to circulate around plumbing. A little preparation now can go a long way in preventing major issues later in the winter.
Prepare the Exterior
Disconnect your hose from your outside water line and store. Turn the outdoor water line off. Aside from the cold temperatures, you’ll also want to be ready for the snow. Make sure you have a plan for your drive and walks. If you have a snowblower make sure it’s in good operation. Purchase salt, sand, and a plow for the walkways.
Car Prep for Winter
Winter prep for your vehicle is essential, as driving conditions can quickly become dangerous during the colder months. Snow, ice, and freezing temperatures can all increase the risk of accidents or unexpected breakdowns. Taking a few preventative steps now can help keep you safe on the road.
Be prepared for the unexpected by making sure your vehicle is properly maintained, your tires are winter-ready, and you have an emergency kit on hand. A little preparation goes a long way in helping you handle whatever winter conditions come your way.
Be Informed about Driving in Snow & Ice
Foremost, don’t drive in truly dicey weather. Unless it’s an emergency, it can wait. When you are out in the winter elements, it’s good to know a few tips to keep you out of the ditch. Here are some helpful things to know.
Emergency Kits for Your Car
Just like in your home, it’s important to create an emergency kit for your car—especially during the winter months when road conditions can quickly become hazardous. Having the right supplies on hand can make a big difference if you find yourself stranded or dealing with a breakdown.
Your winter car emergency kit should include items such as jumper cables, sand or kitty litter for traction, warm clothing or blankets, a flashlight, extra batteries, a first aid kit, bottled water, and non-perishable snacks. You may also want to add an ice scraper, snow brush, phone charger, and a small shovel.
Keeping these essentials in your vehicle ensures you’re prepared for unexpected situations and helps keep you safe until assistance arrives.
Know What to Do When Stranded
Since it isn’t a normal occurrence, we often fail when it comes to knowing what to do when we get stranded. The winter weather can make it even more tricky and lethal.
Here are some things to note:
- Stay in the Car: When it’s below freezing, limit the time you spend outside. Call for help and wait in the car.
- Crack a Window: While we don’t want cold air to get in, we also need fresh air to circulate. Crack a window slightly to make sure fresh air is getting in.
- Run Heat Periodically: If your car can still run, kick on the heat now and then.
- Only Use Cell Phones When Necessary: You’ll need to reserve as much cell phone battery as you can. Run it on airplane mode if it’s low. Resist the urge to use high-powered apps like Facebook. Make sure it’s not running in the background.
- Stay Motivated and Positive: These situations can leave us feeling hopeless, which can also lead to depression or panic. Keep your mind busy with what’s next. Play a game or start a journal/list. Have some reading material to pass the time.
Don’t Get Frozen Out
Just in case the car locks freeze, keep a can of anti-freeze lock spray handy in all the places you might be (home, work, relative’s house). If you don’t have any of this spray on location, it’s alright! Here are some ways to unfreeze a lock.
Bottom Line for Winter Prep Tips
We hope these winter prep tips have helped you become a little more mindful of what’s coming and prepared to deal with it. Winter can be beautiful, but deadly. Don’t take it for granted. Hang these tips on the fridge and send it to family and friends. Be worry-free for the holidays!
Just like these precautions, insurance will also help soften the blow of any incident that threatens your livelihood. If you are looking for an insurer that can help keep you covered, look no further! Trust our local Ohio teams of insurance experts to sit down with you in our office or at your dining room table to listen to you, develop a plan and provide you with the products that will make you bullet-proof in the face of life’s unexpected events. Contact Expert Protection Services today!
