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How to prep your house for freezing weather

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Published  January 3, 2025 4:03pm CST
Winter Weather
FOX TV Digital Team

Prepare your house for freezing weather with these tips

Here are a few tips to keep in mind ahead of freezing weather.

The Brief

    • The first high-impact winter storm of the year is headed toward the U.S.
    • Snow, heavy rains and ice are expected to wreak havoc over the weekend.
    • Some tips to keep your house prepped for freezing weather include letting your faucets drip, close your fireplace flue and keeping your house's temperature no lower than 65 degrees.

LOS ANGELES - America’s first high-impact winter storm of the year is barreling ashore, with weather warnings growing across the central and eastern United States. 

The storm is expected to bring heavy rains, snow and ice over the weekend, which can wreak havoc on one’s home if proper precautions are not implemented. 

Here are some tips to prepare your house for potential freezing weather. 

FILE - ple clear snow from the roof of their house and porch during a snowstorm in Washington, DC, on Jan. 23, 2016. (Photo by NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP via Getty Images)

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Inside your home

It’s recommended to keep your home heated to a minimum of 65 degrees. Anything lower will not be sufficient enough to prevent freezing within the walls, according to the Insurance Information Institute. 

Some other tips to consider include: 

  • Locate your main water shutoff
  • Open hot and cold faucets just enough to let them drip slowly to prevent water pipes from freezing
  • Ensure fireplace, wood stoves and electric heaters are working
  • Close fireplace flue if you have one

RELATED: How cold does it have to be to get frostbite?

Outside your home

Heavy snow or ice can cause damage to essential aspects of your home, such as the gutters and the roof. 

Try to stay ahead of the curve with these preventative measures: 

  • Keep sidewalks and entrances clear of snow and ice
  • Clear out gutters and downspouts to prevent dams
  • If you have a swimming pool, run the pump at night when temperatures are expected to go below freezing
  • Close your garage doors
  • If you can, try to remove any dead, damaged or other potentially problematic tree branches ahead of time

The Source

  • Information for this article was gathered from FOX Weather and the Insurance Information Institute website. This story was reported from Los Angeles. 

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