Winter Weather Is Coming — Here’s How to Get Your Home Ready ❄️

As winter creeps in — shorter days, colder nights, and the occasional surprise storm — it’s easy to underestimate how quickly conditions can change. Whether you’re a longtime homeowner or settling into a new place, a little preparation goes a long way toward keeping your home comfortable, safe, and damage-free throughout the season.

A great place to begin is with the basics: your winter emergency kit. Nothing elaborate — just the essentials that keep life moving if the power goes out. Water, simple foods, flashlights, extra batteries, warm blankets, and a battery-powered or hand-crank radio are all inexpensive items that can make a major difference during an outage.

Your heating and safety systems also deserve a quick check. Many winter emergencies happen inside the home — unsafe heaters, generators placed too close to windows, or carbon monoxide buildup. If you rely on a generator, run it only outdoors and far from any openings. And this is the perfect time of year to test your carbon monoxide detectors and replace batteries if needed.

Home maintenance plays a huge role, too. Sealing gaps around windows and doors keeps warm air inside. Insulating exposed pipes prevents them from freezing and bursting. And don’t forget to disconnect and drain outdoor hoses and spigots before temperatures plunge.

When a Winter Storm Hits

Once the freezing weather arrives, safety becomes the priority:

• Limit time outdoors during extreme cold and dress in warm layers if you must go out.

• Watch for signs of frostbite or hypothermia, like numbness or pale skin.

• Take it slow while shoveling, because the strain can sneak up on you.

• Avoid unnecessary travel, since roads can develop ice patches quickly.

Winterizing Your Water Well Pump

If your home is connected to a private well, winterizing isn’t just smart — it’s essential. Unprotected pumps, pipes, or pressure tanks can freeze and crack, leading to expensive repairs and no access to water when you need it most.

Here’s what that process generally looks like:

• Shut off the water supply to the home at the main shutoff valve, then turn off the well pump breaker so the system can’t accidentally run once it's drained.

• Drain the home’s plumbing lines by opening all faucets and letting water run until it stops. This helps empty the system before freezing temperatures hit.

• Disconnect power to the pump. Even if the breaker is off, unplugging or disconnecting wiring adds a layer of safety.

• If you have a deep well, the pump is usually far enough underground to avoid freezing.

• For shallow wells with jet pumps, you’ll need to loosen the hose clamps, disconnect the water feed lines, and drain any remaining water from the pump into a bucket.

• Tape or label cords and lines so you’ll remember exactly how to reassemble things in the spring.

Taking these steps ensures your water system stays protected even if your home sits vacant or unheated for part of the season.

Winterizing Your Irrigation System

Irrigation systems are especially vulnerable to cold temperatures because water left in underground lines, valves, and sprinkler heads can freeze and expand — causing cracks you may not notice until spring.

A simple winterizing routine can prevent that:

• Shut off the water to the irrigation system at the main valve.

• Set the controller to “rain mode” or “off” so it doesn’t accidentally activate during the winter.

• Open each valve to release pressure in the pipes.

• Drain any exposed components — such as backflow devices or above-ground lines — so no water remains inside.

• Most systems need to be blown out with compressed air to clear underground piping. This typically involves connecting an air compressor to the system’s isolation valve and cycling each zone until no more water appears at the heads.

You don’t need antifreeze for irrigation lines — just make sure they’re completely drained.

Extra Winter-Proofing for Homeowners

Even in places with milder winters of the southwest, a little preparation goes a long way:

• Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors before temperatures drop.

• Insulate pipes in basements, crawlspaces, and exterior walls where temperatures fall fastest.

• Have a simple backup power plan, especially if you rely on well water or electric heating.

• Check on neighbors or family members who might need a hand preparing.

Winter doesn’t have to catch you off guard. With a stocked emergency kit, a bit of maintenance, and proper care for your water well and irrigation system, you can head into the season with confidence. When the wind starts howling and the snow begins to fall, your home — and everything that keeps it running — will be ready.

Sources: ready.gov, weather.gov, and www.watersystemscouncil.org