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Winter storm prep: 7 genius ways to prepare your home for extreme weather
We asked pros for the best gear to help with storm-related snow, ice and anything else Mother Nature throws your way.
We're officially only a few weeks into winter, but the season is already raging, with snow blanketing huge swaths of the country. Even if you live in an area that regularly experiences severe weather, dealing with a blizzard or icy conditions can prove incredibly stressful, especially if your home loses power. So what should you do? The best way to prep your house for snow and winter storms is to have: 1) a plan and 2) emergency supplies and gear that can get you through the worst of it.
To help, we sought advice from experts at the American Red Cross and Frontdoor, a service that connects homeowners to skilled tradespeople. Read on for simple steps and precautions you can take to ensure your house stays warm, safe and protected — plus our picks for gear everyone should own, including power stations, snow blowers and insulation kits.
Before we dive in, now's a good time to familiarize yourself with common winter storm terms. If you hear either of these on the news, the Red Cross advises you to take immediate precautions:
Winter storm warning: Life-threatening, severe winter conditions have begun or will begin within 24 hours.
Blizzard warning: Sustained winds or frequent gusts of 35 miles per hour or greater, plus considerable falling or blowing snow reducing visibility to less than a quarter mile, expected for three hours or longer.
Build an emergency preparedness kit
"At a minimum, you should have an at-home kit for up to two weeks and a go-kit that supports family needs for up to three days," says Stephanie Fox, national spokesperson for the American Red Cross. These should include first-aid supplies, copies of important documents, a flashlight, batteries, chargers for your electronic devices, a battery-powered or hand-crank radio, cash, snacks and water (at least one gallon per person per day for drinking; more for other uses). Fox advises adding items that reflect your family's needs, such as prescription medications or pet food.
For the winter, she suggests warm blankets and clothing, high-calorie snacks, a bright red cloth (in the event you are stranded in a vehicle) and hand warmers.
If you feel overwhelmed at the idea of gathering supplies individually, start with a highly rated kit from the Red Cross, which includes all the basics a person would need for three days, including food bars, water pouches, first-aid supplies and a multi-tool, contained in a lightweight backpack so you can take it with you if you need to evacuate.
Consider buying one of these and building off of it so you have enough supplies for your whole family.
Though compact (9.25" x 3" x 7"), this first-aid kit holds 299 essentials, including antibiotic ointments, gauze roll and pads and nearly every size adhesive bandage imaginable. Its versatility has earned it a near-perfect 4.8 stars from more than 76,000 reviewers.
GearLight
These tiny torches pack mega-wattage, plus they're super durable, made from water-resistant, military-grade aluminum that can withstand a 10-foot drop. You'll need three AAA batteries (or one 3.7 V rechargeable lithium battery) for each flashlight, which are not included. (But you should have batteries in your emergency kit anyway, so you may as well buy extras while shopping.)
More than 63,000 Amazon shoppers gave these gadgets a five-star rating, including this grateful fan: "I was in Hurricane Helene in North Carolina. I had traveled there and was stuck with no power for five days. This Gearlight flashlight was the only source of light I had. It was a workhorse. I had put Duracell AAA batteries in it when I received it. Those batteries lasted the entire five days. I was stunned and thankful. I can't praise this little flashlight enough."
Our colleagues over at Engadget named this device one of the best power banks and portable chargers, and at $45, it's also one of the most affordable. A foldable two-prong plug lets you charge it from a standard outlet, so it's easy to keep juiced.
In reporter Amy Skorheim's testing, the 30 watts of power took a Galaxy S23 phone from 5% to full battery in just over an hour. In 20 minutes, it bumped a near-dead iPhone 15 to 45%. "Despite the attachments, it’s compact, just a smidge wider than a stick of butter, yet still packs a 10,000 mAh capacity," she wrote. Pretty impressive!
More than 5,700 shoppers gave this AM/FM gadget a five-star rating thanks to its bevy of features, including an SOS flashlight, an ultrasonic dog whistle and a weather radio that automatically scans for the strongest signal to help you stay informed.
Power it via the hand crack or built-in solar panel; a full charge should give you 32 hours of radio operation.
Stadium blankets make a great option for emergency preparedness kits because they're warm, waterproof and fold down to a packable size. This pick is backed with extra-thick fleece and at 82" x 55", is large enough to wrap around two people. No wonder more than 1,500 shoppers have awarded it a five-star rating.
As someone with poor circulation especially in my hands, I can confirm that these babies are worth their weight in gold. They're single-use, which makes more sense for emergencies than something you need to charge, and they stay hot for up to 10 hours.
Seal off drafts
This is one of the most important ways to prep your house for extreme winter weather — and one of the first tasks to do once temperatures drop, says Frontdoor handyperson expert, William James. "Check to see if you have any areas in your home where drafts are coming through, such as doors or windows that have broken or old weather stripping."
Replacing weather stripping is fairly easy: Many have adhesive backs, so you can simply peel off the old stuff and replace it. If you're not sure what kind you need, bring some old strips to the hardware store and ask for help finding a match.
Frontdoor plumbing pro David Johnson advises checking that all access and garage doors are closed. And peek at your basement windows to make sure there are no visible gaps in the seals. "These subgrade windows can get snow and water buildup in them and leak, or they may have a vent open that you forgot about in warmer weather," says James.
James recommends this shrink-wrap kit for quickly and inexpensively sealing windows. Believe it or not, applying a product like this to your windows when it's cold can ensure 35% less heat loss! The crystal-clear film won't impede your view so you can keep tabs on what's happening outside your door.
Another quick fix for drafts? James suggests this foam-and-cloth barrier that sits at the bottom of your door (or window) to help keep cold air outside, where it belongs. Just unzip the cover and toss in the wash if it gets dirty.
If you see visible gaps in window seals, use a scraper to remove the old stuff, then replace it with outdoor-rated window caulking. James likes DAP Dynaflex; this version comes as a tube so you don't need a caulk gun to apply it.
Wrap exposed piping
"As wintry weather sets in, it’s important to make sure that all exposed piping is wrapped with foam pipe insulation or pipe sleeves," says Johnson. Keep in mind that exposed piping isn’t just on the exterior of your home. "It's also in your garage, basement, crawlspace and attic — any area that is unheated," he says.
Enclose hose bibs (aka outdoor faucets) in insulation covers, and if your home has isolation valves for your hose bibs, turn them off and drain the bibs. Do the same for your actual hoses, then disconnect them.
It doesn't get more simple or effective than these insulating foam sleeves. Slip them over your pipes (slits ensure it's easy) and secure them with the self-adhesive edges. Duck Brand is famous for its duct tape, so you can trust it knows home maintenance!
More than 8,600 Amazon customers swear by these faucet covers for protecting their pipes during the winter. Made of insulated, waterproof fabric, they keep excess moisture away from your spigots — because what does moisture do when it's freezing outside? It freezes! Ice puts pressure on your pipes, which can lead to ruptures. Not good.
To install them, you just slip the opening over your faucet, twist the drawstring around the cover a few times and pull to tighten.
Clear drains and gutter downspouts
Prevent a slippery mess around your home's exterior by removing any debris from drains and gutter downspouts — just the downspouts, as winter is not the time to get on a ladder and clean out your actual gutters! Clearing potential clogs will "help prevent the buildup of water that can turn into ice once it turns cold," says James. Just make sure to wear gloves and have a screwdriver handy in case you need to remove a drain lid.
A Yahoo editor favorite, DeWalt makes reliable, reasonably priced tools, and its accessories are no exception. This pair features what the brand calls "glove-in-glove technology" — basically, it's two gloves in one, with a knit thermal liner and an outer nylon shell.
Anyone with smaller hands will appreciate the snugger sizing on these work gloves. We love that they're made of goatskin, which is abrasion-resistant but thin enough that you don't lose dexterity. They're lined with Thinsulate for warmth and have a knit wrist guard.
Warm up with a space heater
When used safely and according to the manufacturer's directions, these gadgets can keep things toasty if you lose central heating. Fox says you should place space heaters at least three feet away from anything combustible — bedding, drapery, furniture — and never, ever leave them unattended, even for a short time. "When purchasing a space heater, consider one with a timer and setting that will automatically turn the device off in the event it tips over," she adds.
Fox advises against using candles for warmth because of the fire risk. And leave your oven off — you may think it's an easy way to cozy up your kitchen, but it's "extremely dangerous and can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning," she says.
This compact appliance can really heat things up (I own it, and it takes only minutes to warm a small room). It remains cool to the touch, so no worries about accidentally brushing up against it. Should you happen to knock it over, it'll automatically shut off.
Should your power cut out, a camping stove could help in a pinch. This one operates off chafing fuel, which burns cleanly and is generally safe to use indoors. Fill it with three cans of fuel and it can heat up a 200-square-foot room — plus it does double-duty as a cooktop!
Have snow-removal gear on standby
Digging your way out of a mountain of compacted snow and ice sounds fun to pretty much no one, and the longer you wait, the worse it can get. Keep your snow removal gear inside your house or garage, right by the door, and once it's safe to do so (winds have died down, there's no hail or sleet), start clearing a pathway. Don't forget to throw down some ice melt to tackle slippery spots. "Even one bag of salt will help you with that surprise freeze overnight," says James.
Anyone who has spent hours clearing their driveway knows that it can be backbreaking work — the average shovelful of snow weighs 16 pounds! This tool's spring-assisted second handle helps you gain leverage, minimizing back, shoulder and neck pain.
Rock salt works, sure, but it's not great for the environment — or pets. Made with a blend of modified carbonyl diamide crystals and glycols, which are non-toxic, this ice melt effectively dissolves frozen patches and is so gentle, it's even safe if your pup happens to lick his paws after going outside.
Husqvarna
When it's time to break out the big machinery, James recommends this snow blower from Husqvarna. To be clear, you only need a snow blower like this for large areas, but if you have lots of property (or neighbors who need assistance), equipment like this can seriously lighten your proverbial load.
Invest in alternate power sources
Having a generator or portable power station can turn a potential catastrophe into more of a nuisance, especially if your area experiences frequent brownouts during snow and high winds. "One of the most overlooked winter prep tasks is not having small engines, like a generator, ready to use when weather hits," says James.
If you do end up losing power, follow these tips from Frontdoor electrical expert Johnny Sharif: "First, make sure you have flashlights ready and easy to locate so you can check your electrical panel to see if the issue is isolated to your home or if it’s a widespread outage. If it is your home, check if any circuit breakers are tripped — sometimes they may not look like they are, so you will need to push them all the way to the 'off' position and then reset them. If all are working, then it may be a widespread outage in your area. If this is the case, it would be best to unplug any appliances or electronics that may be damaged from a power surge when the power is restored. Newer homes will have built-in whole home surge protection, but this is still good practice."
Our tech editor, Rick Broida, named this little guy the best overall power station under $250, praising it for its capacity (288Wh) and numerous outputs including four USB ports and three AC outlets. At 9.1 pounds, this was the heaviest battery he tested in this price range, but that shouldn't matter if you're just using it around the house.
Note: Mini power stations like this are best suited for phones, tablets, laptops and small appliances. If you want more juice, scroll on.
Want to keep your fridge and other big-ticket appliances running? Time to invest in a more powerful backup, and none impressed Broida like the Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus, which he crowned the best portable power station for 2025.
It's a convenient alternative to a generator and though pricey, it's worth the money, he says: "The Explorer is one of the most expandable products here, supporting up to five external batteries for a whopping 12,000Wh. You can even link a second Explorer, with five extra batteries of its own, and bring your available power output to 6,000W and capacity to over 24,000Wh — while also adding 240V support for the likes of clothes dryers and well pumps. That's a lot of juice, enough to run an entire house."
For a more traditional gas-powered generator, James likes Generac, which is supposed to run quieter than many other brands. Another plus is you can easily buy it on Amazon (though you should get a licensed installer). This price is for the 10kW option, but you can order outputs up to 26kW.
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
