Winterize Your Home and Vehicle

Winterize or Prepare Your Home

• Insulate walls and attics.
• Cover cracks around doors with rugs, newspapers, towels, or other such material.
• Caulk and weatherize doors and windows.
• Locate and insulate the pipes most susceptible to freezing; typically, those near outer walls, in crawl spaces or in attics.
• Seal any leaks that allow cold air inside where pipes are located.
• Disconnect garden hoses and shut off and drain water from pipes leading to outside faucets.
• If you have no heat, close off unneeded rooms and place towels or rags under the doors.
• Make sure you know how to shut off the water in case pipes burst.

If your water pipes freeze:

• Shut off water at the main source. This can minimize the damage to your home.
• Call a plumber and contact your insurance agent.
• Never try to thaw a frozen pipe with an open flame or torch.
• Always be aware of the potential for electric shock in and around standing water.

Prepare for possible isolation in your home for several days

• Have emergency heating equipment such as fireplaces, wood burning stove, or space heaters and ample fuel so you can keep at least one room of your house warm. Always ensure proper ventilation to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.
• NEVER use an outdoor grill to heat your home or to cook food indoors.
• Keep fire extinguishers on hand and make sure your family knows how to use them.

Vehicle

• Keep your gas tank full in case of evacuation, electrical, or water outages. A full tank will also keep the fuel line from freezing.
• Check your wipers, tires, lights, and fluid levels regularly.
• Make sure the brakes and transmission are working properly.
• Lubricate doors and trunk locks to prevent them from freezing.
• Prepare a winter storm kit and carry it in your vehicle.