How To Prepare Your House For Sub-Zero Temperatures

You’re not alone if you feel a sense of dread when you hear about upcoming sub-zero temperatures. Not only are sub-zero temperatures uncomfortable, but they’re dangerous for you and your home. That’s why you may understandably wonder how to prepare your house for sub-zero temperatures. 

The best way to prepare your house for sub-zero temperatures is to insulate your pipes and patch cracks and gaps in your walls, windows, and doors. Replace your furnace filter and keep up with HVAC maintenance to ensure your furnace doesn’t fail during winter. Clean your gutters before the super cold weather arrives and remove dead branches to protect your home. 

Otherwise, you risk tree and branches falling on the roof or windows, causing damage that can expose your home to freezing temperatures. Follow along as we explore how to prepare your house for sub-zero temperatures. 

11 Tips To Protect Your House From Below-Freezing Temperatures

1. Use Your Thermostat Wisely

Some homeowners avoid running their furnaces to conserve energy and money. However, that can be dangerous and uncomfortable if the outside temperature is below freezing. Ideally, you should set your thermostat to at least 65 degrees Fahrenheit when it’s 32 degrees or below outside. 

This will make your house more comfortable and help protect the pipes inside your walls. Many homeowners even turn the thermostat to 68-70 degrees Fahrenheit for part of the day when it’s that cold. While this can raise your bills, it’s worth the money compared to frozen pipes and uncomfortable days. 

2. Supplement Heating Methods

You can’t expect your furnace to take the full brunt of a freezing day. It helps to supplement with a space heater to avoid stressing your furnace too much. That way, you can reduce your gas bill without sacrificing comfort at home. 

Remember that you should never plug a space heater into a power strip. This can cause an electrical fire that can be devastating and expensive. It’s important to avoid putting your space heater near any furniture or flammable items in your home.

A fire can start if your space heater is within 3 feet of flammable objects. Replace your space heater if it’s between 10 and 20 years old and frequently malfunctions. It’s not worth the risk of fire. 

3. Disconnect Your Hoses

Your pipes can freeze in as little as 3 to 6 hours during below-freezing temperatures. That’s especially true if you still have hoses connected outside your home. Water remains within hoses even when turned off, and that’s a recipe for disaster. 

When water freezes and turns to ice, your pipes will expand and can eventually burst. Many homeowners disconnect their exterior hoses in the fall when it starts to get cold. Waiting too long can lead to devastating plumbing and water damage. 

It’s also important to insulate the hose bibs outside your home once you’ve removed the hoses. This provides an extra layer of safety to avoid frozen pipes.

4. Keep Your Gutters Clean

Clogged gutters can cause many problems, such as foundation damage. Similarly, ice is likely to form on your roof if your gutters are clogged, and this can cause damage. The dirtier your gutters are, the more easily they will get clogged.

Once clogged, water cannot drain and leave via the downspout connected to your gutters. This makes it easy for ice to accumulate within your gutters during sub-zero temperatures. Not only can this damage your gutters due to ice expansion, but it can also damage your roof. 

Ideally, you should clean your gutters one last time for the year in mid -to late-fall or early winter. Install a gutter screen once your gutters are clean. That way, you can keep debris out of them to reduce the risk of clogs. 

5. Prioritize HVAC Maintenance

Sub-zero temperatures don’t come out of nowhere, so you have plenty of time to prepare. It’s worth using this time to catch up on HVAC maintenance before it’s too late. After all, the last thing you want is for your furnace’s compressor or blower motor to stop working during freezing temperatures. 

Early autumn and winter are the best times to schedule basic furnace maintenance. This typically includes an inspection, adjustments, and cleaning parts like the blower housing. The HVAC technician may also lubricate the bearings and blower motor to ensure a smooth performance. 

An inspection can reveal a dirty air filter and loose bearings, among other problems. It’s worth taking the advice of the HVAC technician and paying for repairs before it gets too cold. This can save you the trouble of calling an emergency HVAC line when the temperature is below zero outside. 

6. Run Some Water

It may seem counterintuitive, but running water can help prevent frozen pipes during sub-zero temperatures. That’s because stagnant water within your pipes is more likely to freeze than running water. Run hot and cold water from each of your faucets to prevent frozen pipes.

Granted, your pipes can still freeze if they are poorly insulated and have leaks. However, running water periodically throughout the day can significantly reduce the risk. Don’t worry about increasing your water bill as that’s cheaper than repairing burst pipes. 

7. Insulate Your Pipes

Poorly insulated pipes are especially vulnerable to sub-zero temperatures. The lack of protection means that the water within the pipes will quickly freeze and expand. 

Insulating all your pipes costs an average of $550, or between $100 and $1,000. Polyethylene foam is especially effective for insulating pipes. Fiberglass sleeves are also effective and can keep your pipes relatively warm during sub-zero temperatures. 

8. Address Cracks

There’s a good chance that your home has some holes and cracks in the walls, windows, and doors, especially if your home is old. Not only can this increase your energy bills, but it can also make your home uncomfortable during sub-zero temperatures. 

Carefully inspect your home’s windows, doors, and walls for cracks. Pay special attention to spots where you have or had phone and cable lines. All it takes to seal such holes and cracks is some foam insulation, which you can apply without professional help.

However, it’s worth enlisting professional help if you have extensive wall and window damage. It’s also worth installing weather stripping on your doors to keep drafts out. 

9. Shut Your Fireplace Flue 

Many people understandably use their fireplaces to get warm during cold temperatures. This is fine if you remember to close the flue when you’re done. Otherwise, your home will quickly become freezing and uncomfortable.

This will put unnecessary pressure on your HVAC system, as it may run continuously. The more your furnace and boiler run, the more you’ll spend on energy and gas. An open fireplace flue can also increase the risk of frozen pipes during sub-zero temperatures. 

You can avoid this if you write a note or set a timer to remind yourself to close your fireplace flue. However, you must wait until your fireplace cools down to avoid hurting yourself. 

10. Take Care Of Yard Maintenance

It’s easy to forget about yard maintenance when it’s freezing outside. However, the last thing you want is for a dead branch to fall on your roof or break a window during sub-zero temperatures. You can avoid such problems if you inspect your yard during autumn or winter.

Pay attention to trees and large shrubs that are near your windows. It’s worth removing weakened and dead branches before it gets too cold outside. Otherwise, roof and window repairs are much worse to deal with when the temperature is below freezing outside. 

11. Treat Your Driveway

Nobody wants to salt and shovel their driveway when the temperature is below freezing. Ideally, you should salt your driveway when you learn about freezing temperatures and snow. Granted, freezing temperatures aren’t always accompanied by snow and ice. 

However, salting and shoveling your driveway in sub-zero temperatures is dangerous no matter how old you are. It’s best to salt your driveway when you see the forecast before it gets too cold. If possible, it’s worth parking on the street if you’re expecting ice and snow.

That way, you won’t get stuck in your driveway if you don’t have time to salt your driveway. Many cities and towns dispatch trucks to treat residential streets, so the road will hopefully be fine. It’s also worth salting the walkways to your doors. 

Summing It Up

Insulate your pipes and clean your gutters before sub-zero temperatures arrive to avoid pipe and roof damage. Schedule an HVAC maintenance visit to ensure your furnace and boiler don’t fail when the temperature is below freezing. Patch cracks and gaps in your home’s doors, windows, and exterior walls to keep your home comfortable and safe. 

Related Guides:

• 13 Steps To Keep Your Garden Safe Through Cold Winters
• 12 Ways To Make Shoveling Snow Easier This Winter