The days are growing shorter and colder—and that means one thing: winter is coming soon. But brutal weather can be a bit more bearable if you’re prepared. From your home to your yard to your car, we’ve got a checklist of to-dos that will make it much easier to weather winter’s chill:
Outside
• Winterize outdoor spigots to prevent burst pipes this winter. Turn off the water supply to your outdoor faucet, then turn on the faucets to drain any water left in the pipes. Leave the handle turned to the “on” position all winter long. For an extra layer of protection, install a Frost King Faucet Protector over all spigots to insulate plumbing and keep cold air from seeping into your home.
• Protect your air conditioner unit from harsh winter weather and water that can cause rust with Frost King’s Central Air Conditioner Cover. It’s made of heavy-duty winterized plastic to keep out dirt, leaves, and dust, and has elastic straps to ensure a snug fit. Watch this video for quick and easy installation instructions:
• Trim branches that hang over your roof. In a big storm, these branches could snap off and put a hole right through your roof—so take care of them now, before they fall and cause expensive roof damage.
• Clean gutters to clear out any leaves or debris that stop water from freely flowing away from your house. A gutter scoop can make this messy job a bit less messy. Once the gutters are clear, install Gutter Screens to put an end to clogged gutters for good.
• Add heat cables to your roof to stop ice dams from forming on your roof this winter. Frost King’s Automatic Electric Roof Cable Kits come with everything you need for installation, including shingle clips and cable spacers. To learn how to set them up, watch this video:
• If you have an attached garage, make sure the garage door isn’t leaking keep cold air into the garage… and right into your home. Check the weatherseal at the top and sides of the door and door bottom seal. If any of the seals are cracked, torn, or missing, replace them before the weather turns cold. Watch this video for installation instructions:
Inside
• Seal drafty doors and windows—and save up to 10% in heating costs! Add caulk around door and window frames and add weatherstripping around window sashes and doors.
• Avoid the catastrophe of frozen pipes by wrapping water pipes now, before temperatures drop. Frost King has a range of pipe insulation for pipes of all types and sizes. Watch this video to learn about the different kinds of pipe insulation and their different applications:
• Insulating your water heater with a Frost King water heater insulation blanket can reduce standby heat losses by 25%–45% and save you about 7%–16% in water heating costs, according to gov. You should also insulate the hot water pipes that lead out of your hot water tank. Frost King Tubular Foam Pipe Insulation easily slides over the exposed pipes to keep heated water warm—saving you even more money on your water heating costs.
Car
• Don’t forget to winterize your car! Put a snow scraper and ice melt in the trunk so you're not caught unprepared, and stow a warm pair of gloves, a hat, and blanket in the car just in case you get stranded.
• Check wiper blades and replace if needed.
• Pack an emergency kit stocked with a flashlight, road flares, first aid kit, and nonperishable snacks.
