Ways to Prep Your Home for a Minnesota Winter

Winter in Minnesota is among the coldest in the United States. According to weather.gov, this past winter (2021-22) was the coldest one since 2013-14. Freezing cold temperatures and massive amounts of snow can take a toll on not just a person but the home they live in. By preparing your home for the winter, you can avoid many of the inconveniences and higher costs of repairs that can occur during Minnesota’s cold winter months. We’ve put together a checklist to help you and your family prepare for the incoming chilly weather. 

Check Your Thermostat

• Adjusting your thermostat for the right temperature will help with energy conservation.
• Keep home above 60 degrees at all times to avoid freezing the pipes — frozen pipes will burst.
• Keep home at a safe temperature of 65-78 degrees during the day and lower it at night to about 62-70 degrees.

Tips

The best time to inspect your home's plumbing system is before winter arrives. This way, if anything needs to be repaired before it becomes an emergency repair job in freezing temperatures. Your plumber can check for leaks and loose pipes, as well as frozen or broken water lines.

Seal and Insulate

• Check each window and door into your home to make sure cold air isn’t coming through. 
• Use a form of sealant like caulk, foam or plastic to seal windows, doors and other outdoor access points (like a pet door). This will also help conserve energy!
• Insulate your pipes to protect it from getting too cold, especially in the basement, garage, attic and under each sink.
• Insulate your water heater. Set up a timer to turn off your water heater when not in use, especially if you’re gone for extended periods of time during winter months.

Change the Filters

• Dust, pet hair, dirt and many other pollutants can build up on furnace filters throughout the year, so make sure to replace those every 3-6 months to keep warm air circulating throughout the house.

Heated Clothing and Accessories for Warmth

Did you know?

You can save up to 10% each year on heating bills by turning back the thermostat 7°-10°F for 8 hours a day. Our heated apparel lasts 10 to 12 hours on one single battery charge, that’s about 0.5 cents in electricity cost, or $1.8 if you charge it daily.

• Heated hoodies are a perfect way to stay warm in the winter inside the house, when you’re just lounging around, watching Netflix.
• While you’re working on outdoor winter prep (see below), a heated jacket is your best friend to keep you warm while you work. 

• The Men’s Heated Down Jacket or Women’s Heated Parka (with Thermolite® insulation!) are great options for the brutal cold. Both have thick hoods to protect your face from the cold. Bonus: the Parka’s hood is lined with detachable faux fur for even more protection.
• Heated accessories like scarves, gloves and socks will complete your cold weather protection. Don’t forget to get extra batteries, so you never run out of that sweet, relieving heat. 

Customer review on ororowear.com

Have the Necessary Snow Tools

• If you don’t already have these items, make sure you get them before winter comes in full force:
• Shovels
• Snow-blower
• De-icer and salt
• Ice scrapers for vehicles

Outdoor Home Preparation

• Make sure to clean out the gutters. The combination of dead leaves and snow with icicles is a hassle to deal with later. 
• If you live around a lot of trees, trim those branches. Wind and ice on the branches can cause severe damage to windows and the sides of the home.
• If you have kids or pets, make sure to bring in any outdoor furniture or toys to avoid snow and ice damage.
• Add salt to your walkways and driveways to help prevent snow and ice build-up.

Minnesota winters are a force to be reckoned with. Don’t get caught off-guard this winter. Make sure you have an emergency plan in place in case of a winter storm that bypasses your preparedness. Keep an eye on weather forecasts and stay warm this winter!