How to Prepare Your Home for a Winter Storm

Winter storms can be dangerous and damaging if you are unprepared. When the temperature starts to drop, it's time to think about getting ready.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Batteries
• Batteries
• Portable Radios
• Batteries
• Candles
• Sand
• Space Heaters
• Rock Salt
• Snow Shovels
• Flashlights
• Flashlights
• Candles

1. Bring any outdoor furniture inside (unless it is extremely durable). You can store it in your garage, basement or storage shed.

2. Remove any outdoor items that can be blown around by the wind and may possibly damage your house.

3. Consider whether any dead trees might be a hazard to your house if they were to fall. You may want to have them removed by a professional tree service.

4. Make sure that you have flashlights, with extra batteries, and candles to provide light during a power failure.

5. Keep some extra bottles of drinking water on hand. If you have a well with an electric pump (and will thus lose all water during a power failure), prepare some tubs of water for cleaning and toilet flushing. You may want to fill the bathtub when a storm is coming.

6. Have a battery-operated radio in the house.

7. Stock up on rock salt and sand for dealing with icy and slippery driveways and sidewalks.

8. Make sure that you have good snow shovels ready.

9. Arrange in advance for snow-plowing service - it is very difficult to book a snow-plowing service the day after a big snowstorm.

10. Keep a space heater and fuel in the garage if you live in a particularly cold area - especially if you have electrical heat in the house.

11. Keep food in the house that you can prepare without electricity. Note that your needs will vary depending on the type of appliances you have (gas or electric).

[batticdoor]

on 9/27/2009 How To Reduce Your Energy Bills / Energy Conservation Begins at Home

Imagine leaving a window open all winter long -- the heat loss, cold drafts and wasted energy! If your home has a folding attic stair, a whole house fan or AC Return, a fireplace or a clothes dryer, that may be just what is occurring in your home every day.

These often overlooked sources of energy loss and air leakage can cause heat and AC to pour out and the outside air to rush in -- costing you higher energy bills.

But what can you do about the four largest “holes” in your home -- the folding attic stair, the whole house fan or AC return, the fireplace, and the clothes dryer?

Mark D. Tyrol is a Professional Engineer specializing in cause and origin of construction defects. He developed several residential energy conservation products including an attic stair cover and an attic access door. Battic Door is th...

[zipntuit]

on 5/15/2009 Most of the newer gas stoves have electronic ignitions, if your electric goes out, so does that gas stove. You may want to keep some charcoal available or an extra cyclinder of propane for your gas grill.

[HappySally]

on 10/28/2007 In most all of these kinds of lists, cash is not mentioned. In an emergency ATM's sometimes don't work or run out. I would say, keep a pile of 20's and replenish it if you need to raid it.

[MiNSiECHOi]

on 11/15/2006 instead of winter storm do an article of snow storm ><