How Do You Prepare Your Home for a Winter Storm?

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. 

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:

1. Insulate exposed pipes in basements, crawl spaces, attics, and garages. This is one of the easiest ways to winterize vulnerable plumbing.
2. Open cabinet doors under kitchen and bathroom sinks so warm air can circulate.
3. Let faucets drip slightly when cold temperatures drop below 32°F. Moving water is harder to freeze.
4. Disconnect garden hoses from outdoor spigots. Leaving hoses connected prevents spigots from draining and is one of the most overlooked causes of burst pipes.
5. Know where your main water shut-off valve is, and make sure everyone in the house does too.
6. 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:

1. Schedule a fall roof inspection. Look for missing shingles, damaged flashing, and blocked vents.
2. Clean gutters before the first freeze. Clogged gutters are a leading cause of ice dams.
3. Make sure your attic is properly insulated. Uneven heat escape is a common cause of ice dams.
4. After heavy snowstorms, use a roof rake from the ground. Never climb on a snowy roof.
5. 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:

1. 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.
2. Run a damp hand along baseboards, outlets, and where walls meet the floor. Cold spots can  indicate air leaks.
3. Apply weatherstripping around door and window frames.
4. Caulk gaps where windows meet the house frame.
5. Install plastic film insulation kits for an extra barrier.
6. 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:

1. When a winter storm watch is issued, charge all devices and gather supplies.
2. Keep a battery-operated or hand-crank radio for weather updates when your cell phone battery dies.
3. 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 your landlord’s responsibility. 

What to do:

1. Make sure downspouts direct water at least 5 feet from your foundation.
2. Seal basement wall cracks with hydraulic cement or caulk.
3. 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 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

---

A few quick words, because we <3 our lawyers: This post is general in nature, and any statement in it doesn’t alter the terms, conditions, exclusions, or limitations of the policies issued, which differ according to your state of residence. You’re encouraged to discuss your specific circumstances with your own professional advisors. The purpose of this post is merely to provide you with info and insights you can use to make such discussions more productive! Naturally, all comments by, or references to, third parties represent their own views, and Lemonade assumes no responsibility for them. Coverage may not be available in all states. Please note that statements about coverages, policy management, claims processes, Giveback, and customer support apply to policies underwritten by Lemonade Insurance Company or Metromile Insurance Company, a Lemonade company, sold by Lemonade Insurance Agency, LLC.  The statements do not apply to policies underwritten by other carriers.