Emergency Pros Reveal 5 Quick Steps You Must Take at Home as Extreme Cold Weather Hits – Prevent Frozen Pipes, Heat Loss, and Damage

When extreme cold weather hits, staying warm is only part of the challenge. Freezing temperatures can damage your home, drive up energy bills, and even leave you without power.

Luckily, a little planning ahead of the polar vortex with Arctic air billed as 'dangerous' currently heading into the eastern US can make all the difference when winter weather turns nasty in your region.

These are the five expert ways you can quickly prepare your home for a freeze to stay ahead of it, rather than react to it, as well as stay warm and avoid costly repair bills.

5 Quick Ways to Prepare Your Home for Extreme Cold

1. Protect Pipes from Freezing

Stopping frozen pipes should be your first concern when extreme cold is on the way. The quickest way to do this is to drip faucets. It isn't the most robust solution, but it can prevent burst pipes when extreme cold hits as there won't be water in there to expand into ice and wreak havoc.

If you have more time, Jake Johnson, COO and co-founder at home, emergency and cyber security experts, Batten Safe, says, 'Disconnecting outdoor hoses, covering exterior faucets with outdoor faucet covers from Amazon, and insulating exposed pipes can stop a cold-weather issue from turning into major water damage and an inhospitable living environment.'

Beyond this, bolster your cold-weather prep by learning what to do if a pipe bursts, and how to find your main water valve to protect from severe damage should the worst happen.

Prepping your outside pipes and spigots will also stop the freeze from spreading to indoor pipes and causing a slow or unexpected leak.

2. Consider Backup Power

Extreme cold weather is often accompanied by storms, meaning it is essential to prepare a home for a power cut, which often impacts local infrastructure and can take time to be sorted out.

The quickest and simplest way to do this is to have a few pre-charged power banks available at Walmart to hand. These can help to power phones and smaller essential devices should the power go out. Consider also having a hand-crank weather radio from Amazon that doubles as a power bank and light, too, allowing you to stay connected and navigate a dark home safely.

For a longer-lasting solution, Jake suggests hooking up a generator to a house. 'Extreme cold often brings power outages, and having a redundant power source can make the difference between inconvenience and an emergency. A portable power station can keep critical devices running; phones, medical equipment, or space heaters (only electric) so families can stay warm, informed, and connected when the grid goes down.'

The Generac Gas-Powered Portable Generator from Lowe's has hundreds of five-star ratings, and is described by shoppers as powerful, reliable, and able to power a variety of household appliances if your utility services fail.

3. Bump Your Thermostat

Extreme cold will make your heating system work harder; however, keeping your home warm is essential for preventing mold and keeping you and your family comfortable.

Because of this, Eli Zimmer, CEO of Luxaire HVAC Services, advises, 'Set your thermostat a little bit higher. You may not need to set it higher during the day, but if you have it at a lower temperature at night, you might want to bump it up a few degrees so that it’s no less than 65 ° Fahrenheit. This will help prevent your pipes from freezing and will help your home stay at a more comfortable temperature.

'Also, make sure the vents in your home are not obstructed by anything so that you can get the best possible warm airflow in your house,' he adds. This helps to make your heating more efficient. 'Move any furniture that may be blocking them, for example, and make sure all of your doors inside remain open so that warm air can flow throughout your home evenly.'

Investing in a smart thermostat, such as the Honeywell from Best Buy, is the best way to monitor the temperature in your home during extreme weather. They allow you to tailor your heating schedule to suit sudden changes, even when you are away from home.

If you're operating by dated heating standards, it might be helpful to know the old 66°F rule is out.

4. Check Your Insurance

While no one wants to think about severe damage to their home, it is always worth being prepared for it. A key part of this is checking over your insurance policy documents.

Construction and mold remediation pro Russell Vent, VP at Paul Davis Restoration of Greater Rochester, NY, says, 'Most importantly, you will want to understand your insurance policy and what is and is not covered by your insurer. Do not enter a freeze event assuming that every type of damage will be covered.'

To be thorough, Russell suggests the following:

• Call your insurance company or agent and review coverage for some of the types of issues listed above and others.
• Make sure you are keeping your home heated properly, and you can prove it. Some insurance companies will require proof from your energy supplier that your home was being heated properly before coverage of a claim.
• If you are away from home, make sure you are checking on the property regularly. A good rule of thumb is every two weeks, but it is best to clarify that with your insurance company. Failure to monitor your property, in my experience, has also led to insurance claim denials.

5. Protect Against Ice Dams

Russell explains, 'Ice damming is the build-up of ice on the eaves of pitched roofs. Air temperatures need to be freezing for a sustained amount of time following or in conjunction with snowfall. These two things, along with the heat from the home, cause a large buildup of snow and ice that begins to melt and cannot escape anywhere except back into the home, damaging walls, ceilings, and attic spaces.

'Excessive freezing and buildup are caused by insufficient insulation and/or ventilation into the attic space. A key sign of ice dams is excessive icicles forming or big mounds of snow and ice building up at the eaves. You are likely to also experience some water damage to your home.'

Here are some things you can do to prevent this damage:

• Ensure your roof is in good condition, and wear and tear areas are something to be aware of for an upcoming storm. Clean gutters to ensure water flows smoothly.
• Ensure your attic space is well insulated. Different levels of attic insulation, “R-Value,” is required based on where you live, and a contractor will be able to help you ensure you have the right one. Similarly, ensure you have proper ventilation in your attic space. Air should be making its way into the eaves (soffits) of the attic space and be exiting through roof vents or a continuous ridge vent for example. Make sure your soffit areas are not clogged with insulation and have “baffle vents” [available at Lowe's] installed to promote proper air flow.
• Install heat cables [available from Walmart] to help keep the eaves from developing a buildup of snow and ice (only relevant if you maintain power), or use a “roof rake” to keep the eaves clear of build-up throughout snowfall
• Use “ice melt socks” (stockings filled with rock salt, from Walmart) specifically designed to be placed on the areas of concern to promote melt and create channels for water to exit the roof, not through the home.
• Find out who in your local area provides ice dam removal and keep their number handy. However, during an event, these companies become inundated with requests, and even the largest companies can become backed up for days and weeks.

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Meet the Experts

Eli Zimmer

Eli is the Director of Operations of Luxaire HVAC Services. For over 32 years, businesses across Long Island have relied on Luxaire HVAC Services, Inc. for expert commercial heating, cooling, and indoor air quality solutions. We specialize in servicing, repairing, and installing HVAC systems tailored to the unique demands of commercial facilities.

Russell Vent

Russell has over 16 Years of experience in construction, restoration, and remediation as a New York State Licensed Mold Remediator, Council-Certified Microbial Remediation Supervisor, and a IICRC Master Fire and Smoke Restorer. He is also the Vice President of PACNY (Professional Abatement Contractors of New York).

Taking steps to winterize your house inside and out before extreme cold hits will give you peace of mind that your home can weather the storm. Plus, it can save you money in the long run by preventing damage rather than responding to it.