Freeze watch: How to protect your home from cold weather
Freezing temperatures can lead to expensive repairs and significant stress. In some locations, experiencing intense weather may not be an option, but it poses additional risks and dangers.
If you live in an area that experiences severe cold weather, it’s best to prepare yourself and your home to ensure you stay safe and warm, even on the coldest nights.
Pre-cold precautions
Insulate your pipes: Insulate external pipes and those in unheated areas like lofts, garages, and crawl spaces. Use weather-resistant lagging to keep the water inside from reaching freezing point.
Check the header tank: If your water tank is in the loft, ensure it is properly insulated. If the water freezes and expands, it can crack the tank, leading to a major leak once it thaws.
Service your boiler: Have a professional service your heating system to ensure it’s running efficiently and safely.
Banish draughts: Use weather stripping on windows and doors. Check for leak hotspots, such as letterboxes, vents, and where utility lines enter the house.
Roof and gutter care: Clear out leaves and debris from gutters. If water can’t flow away, it can freeze into ice dams, which force water back under your roof tiles and into your home.
In case you're interested: A home design that can reduce bills by 90%
Surviving the cold
Keep the heat on: Even if you are out, keep your heating on a low, constant setting (or set a timer) to keep water moving and prevent pipes from freezing.
Circulate warm air: Open the cabinet doors under your kitchen and bathroom sinks. This allows the warm air of the house to reach the pipes hidden behind the joinery.
Be prepared for snow: Keep a stash of grit or sand and a sturdy shovel ready. Use it to keep paths and steps safe.
Fire safety: If using an open fire, use a fire screen and only burn seasoned hardwood to reduce creosote build-up. Never put hot ashes in a plastic bin.
You may also want to read: The High Line: The park that almost wasn’t
What to do if pipes freeze
Locate the blockage: Usually, an exposed area or an uninsulated pipe.
Thaw gently: Use a hairdryer on a low setting, a hot water bottle, or a heated cloth. Never use a blowtorch or open flame.
If a pipe bursts: Turn off the main stopcock immediately. Turn on all cold taps to drain the system, but leave the hot taps alone to prevent your hot water cylinder from collapsing.
After the thaw
Check for damage: Walk around the perimeter of your home to check for new cracks or damp spots.
Ground-level roof check: Don’t climb onto a slippery roof. Use binoculars to check for shifted tiles or sagging gutters.
Update your kit: If you found yourself missing a torch or salt during the freeze, restock your emergency kit now while it’s fresh in your mind.
You may also like to read: The first 100% plant-based fur
Protect the plants
The dry and windy conditions can also create an elevated risk for brush fires and wildfires, though rainfall may keep brush moist enough to prevent the most dangerous conditions.
Statistically, cities like New York or New Jersey might experience a last frost in late March, and it’s quite common for it to happen even in the first or second week of April. So if trees and flowers are beginning to bloom, it is recommended to take precautions to protect them.
No matter how well you prepare, accidents can happen. Keep your insurance documents in an easy-to-reach place. If you do suffer damage, take photos immediately and contact your insurer before arranging major repairs.
In case you missed it: Inside Orion, the spacecraft capsule for Artemis II