A step-by-step guide to protecting your home from snow, ice, blizzards, and extreme cold, before it’s too late.
The short answer: As a homeowner, start early. Check your pipes, your roof, your windows, and your gutters before the first freeze, not during it. A few hours of prep can save you tens of thousands in damage. Here’s the lowdown.
TL;DR
- Start before the first freeze, not during it. Pipes, roof, and gutters are the three areas that tend to cause the most damage and the most expensive claims.
- Know your alert levels. A winter storm watch means you still have time to prep. A winter storm warning means execute now.
- Alternative heat sources are responsible for deaths every winter. Avoid using a gas stove, grill, or generator indoors, not even in the garage.
- Many types of winter storm damage are covered by Lemonade homeowners insurance, but snowmelt flooding and gradual pipe damage are not. Know your gaps before a storm hits.
Why prepare your home for a winter storm?
Because winter storms don’t give you much warning, and the damage they leave behind is expensive, stressful, and often avoidable.
A burst pipe, a collapsed gutter, an ice dam working its way under your shingles – these aren’t freak accidents. They’re predictable problems with predictable solutions. According to the Insurance Information Institute, the average freeze-related insurance claim runs about $15,400, and that’s just the property damage. The real cost is the disruption: the hotel stays, the contractors, the weeks of repairs.
It’s not just your home at risk either. According to the CDC, Extreme cold weather kills more than 1,000 Americans every year, most of them during January and February when temperatures drop hardest and fastest. The good news is that many of those losses, to your home and to your family’s safety, come down to preparation. A few hours of work before the winter season starts can make the difference between a manageable cold snap and a genuine emergency.
💡 Pro tip: If a storm is already coming – open cabinet doors under sinks, let faucets drip, find your main water shut-off valve, and stuff towels against drafty doors. That’s your 30-minute survival checklist.
What’s the difference between a winter storm watch and a warning?
Before diving into prep steps, it helps to know the alert levels, because each one tells you something different about how much time you have.
On a basic level, a winter storm watch means that hazardous weather is possible, while a winter storm warning means that hazardous weather is either imminent or occurring. Here’s the full breakdown:
| Alert Level | What it means | What you should do |
| Winter storm watch | Severe conditions might develop in 24-48 hours | Start prepping now – fill your gas tank, stock supplies, check pipes |
| Winter storm warning | Dangerous winter weather is happening now or will hit within 12-24 hours | Execute your prep plan immediately |
| Winter weather advisory | Winter weather is coming, but it won’t be as intense – think inconvenient rather than dangerous | Stay alert, keep walkways clear, drive carefully |
| Blizzard warning | Blizzard conditions (low visibility of less than 1/4 mile due to falling and/or blowing snow, and winds at least 35 mph) are expected for at least 3 hours | Don’t travel. Stay indoors. |
1. Protect your pipes from freezing
Frozen pipes are among the most common and most expensive winter casualties. About one in 60 insured homes has a claim caused by water damage or freezing. When water freezes, it expands and can crack pipes, flooding your home when they thaw.
What to do:
- Insulate exposed pipes in basements, crawl spaces, attics, and garages. This is one of the easiest ways to winterize vulnerable plumbing.
- Open cabinet doors under kitchen and bathroom sinks so warm air can circulate.
- Let faucets drip slightly when cold temperatures drop below 32°F. Moving water is harder to freeze.
- Disconnect garden hoses from outdoor spigots. Leaving hoses connected prevents spigots from draining and is one of the most overlooked causes of burst pipes.
- Know where your main water shut-off valve is, and make sure everyone in the house does too.
- Set your thermostat to at least 55°F, even if you’re traveling. Your living room might feel fine at that temperature, but airflow inside walls and crawl spaces is restricted, making those spots much colder. During a severe winter storm, keeping the heat a little higher than your usual away setting helps warm air reach the deep corners of your plumbing.
What Lemonade covers: A standard homeowners policy generally covers sudden and accidental water damage caused by a burst pipe, provided you maintained proper heat in the home. Keep in mind, if a pipe freezes but doesn’t burst, there is no physical property damage, meaning the out-of-pocket cost to have a plumber thaw it out, or any temporary housing while you wait, may not be covered.
2. Get your roof ready before the snow hits
Heads up if you rent: roof prep, gutter cleaning, and attic insulation are your landlord’s responsibility. If you notice missing shingles, ice buildup, or water coming through the ceiling, report it to your landlord in writing immediately.
Heavy snow adds hundreds of pounds to your roof. Ice dams force water under shingles and into your walls. And in a blizzard, overhanging branches can become projectiles.
What to do:
- Schedule a fall roof inspection. Look for missing shingles, damaged flashing, and blocked vents.
- Clean gutters before the first freeze. Clogged gutters are a leading cause of ice dams.
- Make sure your attic is properly insulated. Uneven heat escape is a common cause of ice dams.
- After heavy snowstorms, use a roof rake from the ground. Never climb on a snowy roof.
- Trim overhanging branches before winter. Ice and snow make them heavy and brittle.
What Lemonade covers: A standard homeowners policy generally covers roof damage from snow weight, wind, fallen trees, or freezing rain, including any resulting water damage to your belongings.
3. Seal your windows and doors against cold air
Air leaks can waste up to 30% of your home’s heat. In blizzard conditions, drafts can make rooms dangerously cold even with the heat running.
What to do:
- Hold the back of your hand near the window and door frames. You’ll feel cold air coming through before you see any other sign of it.
- Run a damp hand along baseboards, outlets, and where walls meet the floor. Cold spots can indicate air leaks.
- Apply weatherstripping around door and window frames.
- Caulk gaps where windows meet the house frame.
- Install plastic film insulation kits for an extra barrier.
- Hang thermal curtains and use draft stoppers at the base of doors.
4. Prep your heating system and choose safe heat sources
Get your furnace or heat pump serviced before the winter season. A heating system that fails during severe weather isn’t just uncomfortable.It can put your pipes and your loved ones at risk.
| Heat Source | Safe to use? | What to know |
| Portable space heater | With caution | Keep 3 feet from anything flammable, never leave on overnight, and never leave unattended |
| Wood stove | With caution | A legitimate backup when maintained properly with a clear flue. Never leave unattended while burning |
| Kerosene heaters | Limited | Only in ventilated spaces, fumes are a real risk, and never leave unattended |
| Gas stove or oven | Never | Not a heat source, carbon monoxide poisoning risk |
| Propane grills, charcoal, or generators indoors | Never | Not even in a garage with the door open |
5. Prevent carbon monoxide poisoning
Carbon monoxide is colorless, odorless, and easy to mistake for the flu. And when the power goes out and people reach for alternative heat sources, the risk increases significantly.
What to do:
- IInstall battery-operated carbon monoxide detectors on every level of your home, especially outside sleeping areas. Check them monthly.
- Make sure smoke alarms are installed on every level and inside each bedroom.
- If you suspect carbon monoxide exposure, leave immediately and call 911 from outside.
For guidance on CO risks and detector placement, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has clear, reliable resources.
6. Prepare for power outages
Power outages during a blizzard or cold snap can put a lot at risk: your pipes, your food, your ability to communicate, and your ability to get help.
What to do:
- When a winter storm watch is issued, charge all devices and gather supplies.
- Keep a battery-operated or hand-crank radio for weather updates when your cell phone battery dies.
- If you get a generator, use it outside only. Carbon monoxide from generators is a serious risk every winter.
Winter emergency kit essentials:
| Item | Why you need it |
| Flashlights + extra batteries | Outages during blizzards can last days |
| Battery-operated radio | Weather updates without cell service |
| 1 week of non-perishable food | Roads may be impassable |
| 1 gallon of water per person per day | In case pipes freeze |
| Warm clothing and blankets | Heat can fail, and body heat matters |
| First aid kit + prescriptions | Pharmacies may be closed |
| Cell phone charger (battery-powered) | Charge before the storm hits |
| Fire extinguisher | Critical if using alternative heating |
For additional guidance, ready.gov and the American Red Cross both have solid emergency prep resources.
7. Clear gutters and prepare for snowmelt flooding
Gutters do double duty in winter. When temperatures rise after a heavy snow, melting water can overwhelm drainage systems fast. If your gutters are clogged and your foundation isn’t sealed, that water may end up in your basement.
Heads up if you rent: gutter maintenance and foundation sealing are typically your landlord’s responsibility, though it’s worth checking your lease to be sure.
What to do:
- Make sure downspouts direct water at least 5 feet from your foundation.
- Seal basement wall cracks with hydraulic cement or caulk.
- Test your sump pump now, and consider a battery-operated backup for power outages.
Important: Snowmelt flooding is treated as a flood event. Flood insurance is usually sold separately, and homeowners insurance often only covers water damage that’s sudden rather than gradual. You’d need a separate flood policy to cover this kind of damage.
8. Maintain safe walkways
Icy steps are a liability risk. If someone slips and falls on your property, your Lemonade homeowners policy’s personal liability coverage may help, but prevention is always better.
What to do:
- Install outdoor lighting so hazards are visible at night.
- Stock up on ice melt before the winter season starts.
- Apply it before a storm, not just after. It tends to work better on a dry surface.
- Shovel promptly before snow compacts into ice.
- Keep an ice scraper for stairs and tight spots.
What does homeowners insurance cover for winter storm damage?
Many types of winter storm damage are covered, but there are a few gaps worth knowing about before a storm hits, not after.
| Usually covered | Usually not covered |
| Burst pipe damage + temporary housing | Power outages (without physical damage) |
| Roof damage from snow, wind, or fallen trees | Snowmelt flooding (needs separate flood insurance) |
| Water damage from ice dams | Pipes that freeze but don’t burst |
| Personal liability for injuries on your property | Neglect (e.g., leaving heat off for weeks) |
Seasonal maintenance checklist
Use this as your quick-reference before, during, and after winter. The steps above cover the detail, this is your at-a-glance reminder.
Fall (before the first freeze):
- Roof inspection and gutter cleaning
- Insulate exposed pipes to winterize your plumbing
- Service heating system, replace filters
- Seal windows and doors
- Test sump pump
- Install fresh batteries in carbon monoxide detectors and smoke alarms
- Stock winter emergency kit and ice melt
During winter:
- Roof rake after heavy snow
- Monitor pipes during cold snaps and blizzards
- Keep walkways clear with ice melt and a scraper
- Stay alert to weather conditions and storm warnings
Spring:
- Inspect for winter damage
- Service sump pump and drainage systems
- Plan any major repairs before next winter
Before we go…
Winter storms are stressful enough without scrambling to fix things mid-blizzard. The steps above aren’t complicated, they’re just easy to put off until it’s too late.
Start with your pipes and your roof. Those are the two areas that tend to cause the most damage and the most expensive claims. Work through the rest of the checklist before the first freeze hits, and you’ll be in good shape for whatever the winter season throws at you.And if you want to make sure your coverage is as ready as your home, see what Lemonade homeowners insurance covers
