Winter Is Coming — Here is Everything You Need To Prepare for Ice and Snow

Winter is coming, which means it’s time to start preparing for icy roads and hazardous conditions. You’ll need the right gear and supplies to make sure you and your family stay warm, regardless of the weather outside. Whether you live in an area that’s prone to snow or in a warmer climate where the temperature occasionally drops to freezing, it’s always best to be prepared.

In this post, we’ll share everything you need to prepare for winter and any emergencies that could arise. From the right tools to keep in your car to insulating your pipes, we’ll cover what you should do for your vehicle, home, and outdoor spaces. So, let’s dive into everything you need to know to get ready for cold weather!

Weather Preparations

Check Weather Forecasts

Checking local and national weather forecasts is an important step to take when preparing for winter months. By staying informed about upcoming winter weather events such as snow storms or extremely cold temperatures, you can take proactive measures to protect your home and family.

Stock up on Snow and Deicing Supplies

Aside from the obvious must-haves like snow shovels, there are other items that should be stocked up on before winter arrives. Rock salt helps melt snow and ice on sidewalks and driveways and deicers help make surfaces slip-resistant so they are safe for walking on. Ice melt is also recommended for use on concrete surfaces. If salt or similar melting products are not available, sand is useful to have as a backup traction aid.

Vehicle Prep

Change Vehicle Fluids

Since cold temperatures can cause vehicle fluids to freeze, you will want to make sure you top off all the essential ones such as oil and antifreeze prior to temperatures dropping too low.

Check Tire Pressure

Before winter arrives, be sure to check tire pressure for all your vehicles. Pressure decreases in colder temperatures which could potentially cause accidents due to a lack of traction on icy roads.

Invest in Snow Tires

If you live in an area where snowfall is expected to be particularly heavy, investing in snow tires might be a good idea — especially if you plan to drive during or after snowy weather. Snow tires offer additional traction on slick roads to help keep you and your vehicle safe and sound during winter months.

Home Preparations

Clean and Repair Gutters

Inspect your gutters and make sure they are cleaned out of debris so water can move freely down drain spouts without the risk of freezing over the course of winter months. Otherwise, this can cause excessive damage to your home’s exterior walls.

Clean Roof and Sidewalks

If you live in an area with heavy snowfall, it would be a good idea to sweep off your roof and sidewalk in advance to prevent any unnecessary damage or weight buildup as a result of snow accumulation. This can also make it easier to shovel your sidewalk.

Install Snow Guards

Installing snow guards helps prevent large chunks of snow from sliding off rooftops, which could potentially damage property or injure people below.

Insulate Pipes

Making sure all pipes are well insulated will help prevent them from freezing in colder temperatures. If plumbing isn’t properly insulated in advance, you may have to deal with costly repairs.

Install Storm Windows

Storm windows are particularly helpful when it comes to keeping warmth inside the house and blocking out cold air from outside. This can help significantly improve the energy efficiency of your home during winter.

Disconnect Outdoor Hoses

Be sure to disconnect outdoor hoses prior to winter as leaving them connected can risk serious damage if the water inside them freezes during subzero temperatures.

Emergency Prep

Stock up on Emergency Supplies

It’s always better to be prepared, so stocking up on emergency supplies such as flashlights, extra batteries, blankets, non-perishable food items like canned goods, and water before winter begins is recommended. Between cold weather and the possibility of severe storms, it’s good to be ready in case of a power outage.

Put Together an Emergency Kit

Putting together a comprehensive emergency kit containing all the essential items listed above (plus any other special items based on individual needs) is a great way to ensure safety and security if an emergency situation does arise due to severe winter weather conditions. It’s important to have an emergency kit for your car as well.

Keep an Emergency Contact List

Creating an emergency contact list containing essential contacts like your electricity company and plumber makes it easier for you to reach out if something does go wrong due to inclement weather. Having this information at hand can help save you time and stress if you end up needing it.

Have a Backup Generator

Installing a backup generator for the winter months is highly recommended as it can provide electricity in case of power outages due to extreme weather conditions. Since heavy snowfall or extremely cold temperatures can potentially last for days or weeks at a time, utility companies may have a hard time supplying electricity for an extended period of time.

Outdoor Prep

Cover Outdoor Plants

If you want to keep outdoor plants alive through winter months, then covering them with insulating material (usually tarpaulin or plastic sheeting) is an absolute must. This will protect them against extreme cold temperatures that typically accompany deep freezing periods throughout the season.

Check Firewood Supply

For those who rely on woodburning stoves or fireplaces for heat during winter, verifying and replenishing firewood stock levels before it freezes is essential. Doing so in advance will save you from needing to go out and gather or buy more wood when temperatures become too cold for comfort.

Remove Rotting Trees

Evaluating trees around your home prior to the start of the winter months is also something that should be done. Any decaying or rotting ones should be removed immediately before they fall down due to precipitation buildup throughout the season. Leaving them up could lead to dangerous situations such as falling branches or even uprooted trees falling on your home or car.

Prepare Pets for the Cold

When cold temperatures arrive so do numerous hazards associated with them such as frostbite and hypothermia. Just like you and the rest of your family, pets should have warm clothing readily available to wear outdoors at all times when protection is needed from the severe cold.

Insulate Outdoor Faucets

Another item that should be inspected prior to the start of colder seasons is outdoor faucets. Make sure they have been insulated properly since exposure to subzero temperatures over the course of winter can lead to bursting pipes. This could cause catastrophic water damage if not taken care of beforehand.

Check Your Insurance Coverage

Finally, checking your insurance coverage and policies before it gets cold will also help ensure proper protection in case something goes wrong due to hazardous weather conditions. Verifying what terms are outlined within the contract between you and the party providing coverage can offer peace of mind that you’re insured against costly damages.

Conclusion

There’s no such thing as being too prepared for winter! With the right supplies and tools, you’ll be ready for whatever unexpected surprises the winter season brings. By taking these proactive steps, you can better ensure that you and your family are safe and secure in spite of the cold weather outside.