🌪️ Weather Hardening
Freeze prep, storm prep, wildfire smoke sealing, heat plans, and water intrusion basics—practical, region-aware home readiness.
0 articles
Weather Hardening
Prepare your home for seasonal extremes with checklists that prioritize the highest-impact actions first.
Your local risks matter most. Focus on what actually affects your area—don’t prepare for hurricanes if you live in Montana.
Pick Your Local Risk
🥶 Freeze
Burst pipes are among the most expensive and preventable home disasters. If you get below-freezing temps, this is priority #1.
🌀 Severe Storms
Wind, hail, lightning, tornadoes. Focus on securing loose items, knowing shelter locations, and protecting windows/garage doors.
🔥 Wildfire Smoke
Even if fire isn’t near you, smoke travels. Indoor air quality becomes the priority.
🌡️ Extreme Heat
Keep your home cooler, protect vulnerable household members, and have a backup plan if AC fails.
🌊 Flooding / Water Intrusion
Basement seepage, sump pump overload, poor drainage. Prevention beats cleanup.
Before / During / After: Freeze Night
Cold Snap Tonight (Below Freezing)
Before
- Must do
Disconnect and drain outdoor hoses
- Must do
Open cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls
- Should do
Let faucets drip (cold-side, furthest from water heater)
- Should do
Insulate exposed pipes in crawl space/garage
- Must do
Know where your main water shutoff is
During
- Must do
Keep thermostat at 55°F+ even if away
- Should do
Keep garage door closed
- Must do
Monitor for signs of frozen pipes (no water flow)
After
- Must do
Check all faucets for water flow as temps rise
- Should do
Inspect exposed pipes for cracks or bulges
- Must do
Watch for leaks as frozen pipes thaw
This is when burst pipes reveal themselves
If a Pipe Freezes
Never use an open flame to thaw pipes. Use a hair dryer, heat lamp, or wrap with warm towels. If you can’t locate the frozen section or see visible damage, call a plumber.
Before / During / After: Storm Day
Severe Storm Approaching
Before
- Must do
Secure or bring in loose outdoor items
- Must do
Know your safe room (interior, lowest floor, away from windows)
- Should do
Charge devices and have flashlights ready
- Nice to have
Check gutters and drainage
- Nice to have
Move cars away from trees if possible
During
- Must do
Stay away from windows during high winds
- Must do
If tornado warning: go to safe room immediately
- Should do
Unplug electronics to prevent surge damage
After
- Should do
Inspect roof, siding, and windows for damage
- Must do
Check for downed power lines (stay away, call utility)
- Should do
Document any damage for insurance
Before / During / After: Smoke Day
Wildfire Smoke / Poor Air Quality
Before
- Should do
Seal gaps around doors and windows
- Should do
Replace HVAC filter with higher MERV rating
- Nice to have
Have a HEPA air purifier or DIY box fan filter ready
- Nice to have
Stock N95 masks for outdoor trips
During
- Must do
Keep windows and doors closed
- Should do
Run HVAC on recirculate (not fresh air)
- Should do
Run air purifier in main living area
- Must do
Limit outdoor activity, especially for kids, elderly, pets
After
- Should do
Air out home when air quality improves
- Should do
Replace or clean HVAC filter
- Nice to have
Restock masks and check sealing supplies
Quick Action Lists
”Cold Snap Tonight” — 20-Minute Freeze Prep
- ☐ Disconnect outdoor hoses
- ☐ Cover outdoor faucets with insulated covers
- ☐ Open sink cabinet doors on exterior walls
- ☐ Let faucets drip overnight
- ☐ Set thermostat to 55°F+ minimum
- ☐ Close garage door
Storm Season Walkaround
- ☐ Clean gutters and downspouts
- ☐ Check downspout extensions (direct water away from foundation)
- ☐ Secure or store loose outdoor items
- ☐ Trim tree branches near house
- ☐ Check window and door seals
- ☐ Test sump pump if applicable
Smoke Day Indoor Air
- ☐ Close all windows and doors
- ☐ Set HVAC to recirculate
- ☐ Run air purifier in occupied rooms
- ☐ Seal obvious gaps with damp towels if needed
- ☐ Limit cooking that produces smoke/steam
- ☐ Monitor AQI and plan for improvement
Buy Smarter: Weather Prep Gear
Weatherstripping and Sealing
- Door sweeps — $10-30, easy DIY, huge draft reduction
- Weatherstripping tape — For windows and doors
- Foam gap filler — For larger gaps around pipes, vents
- Window insulation kits — Plastic film for old windows in winter
Air Quality
- HEPA air purifier — Look for CADR rating appropriate for room size
- Box fan + furnace filter — DIY alternative (less effective but cheap)
- N95 masks — For outdoor trips during smoke events
- Higher MERV filters — For existing HVAC (check if your system can handle it)
Freeze Prevention
- Pipe insulation — Foam tubes, easy to install
- Outdoor faucet covers — $5-10, prevents freezing at the spigot
- Heat tape — For chronically problematic pipes (follow instructions carefully)
Upgrades That Matter
- Weatherstripping — Cheap, high impact, DIY-friendly
- Attic insulation — Reduces heat loss and ice dam risk
- Gutter guards — Reduce maintenance and overflow issues
- Drainage improvements — Grading, downspout extensions, French drains
- Garage door bracing — In high-wind areas (regional, consult local codes)
Make It a Routine
Fall (Freeze Prep):
- Disconnect hoses, drain irrigation
- Insulate exposed pipes
- Check weatherstripping
- Service heating system
Spring (Storm Prep):
- Clean gutters
- Check roof and siding
- Trim trees
- Test sump pump
Summer (Smoke/Heat Prep, where applicable):
- Stock HVAC filters
- Check air purifier
- Review heat plan
Families + Pets
- Heat plans — Know the coolest spots in your home; have a backup plan for AC failure
- Smoke days — Keep kids and pets indoors; watch for respiratory distress
- Storm shelter — Practice getting to your safe room; include pet carriers
Related
- Power Outages — When weather knocks out power
- Water Resilience — Freeze prep for pipes
- Plumbing & Water hub — Pipe and drainage systems
- Family + Pet Readiness
- ← Back to Resilience
Articles
No articles in this hub yet.