When the Heat’s Out, Disaster’s In! Protect Your Home This Winter.

New England winters can be tough. If your heat source fails, your home could freeze in as little as 6–8 hours. Here’s how to prevent a freeze-up:

Generators

The best investment one can make in the name of prevention is a generator. Standby generators and backup generators are widely used across New England homes. Automatic standby generators, though more expensive, switch on seamlessly during power outages and allow peace of mind when you’re away. Portable generators, also known as backup generators, are a less costly option but require manual setup and must run in a ventilated area. Keep your generator fueled and serviced regularly for reliable performance.

Fuel Deliveries & Equipment Maintenance

If your home uses oil or gas heat, set up automatic fuel deliveries but still check fuel levels frequently. Your fuel tank should be in a place that is easy to access and the fuel gauge should be visible. Tanks hold roughly 80% of their labeled capacity (e.g., a 275-gallon tank holds about 220 gallons when full). Before leaving town, schedule a fuel delivery or arrange for someone to monitor your home. Don’t rely entirely on automatic deliveries during cold snaps—stay proactive to avoid freezing pipes.

Schedule annual maintenance for furnaces, boilers, and water heaters to prevent winter breakdowns.

If you heat your home with radiators, it is recommended you bleed the radiator to release trapped air and keep the wall unit running efficiently.

Keep Heat In

Be sure to change the batteries in your thermostat as needed. If your batteries are dead, the signal that keeps your furnace running is likely dead as well. Keep an eye on changes in the display and if the buttons that control the temp change when you try to turn the heat up. If the display stops working, chances are your thermostat is no longer communicating with your furnace to keep heat circulating.

To keep heat in, seal drafts around windows and doors. Use heavy drapes and open curtains during the day to let in sunlight. Reverse ceiling fans should be set to spin counterclockwise to circulate warm air.

Install wireless heat monitors in your home that allow you to keep tabs on the temperature inside your home when you're away. Heat monitors can send you call & text alerts when the temperature in your home dips below the acceptable parameters you set upon installation. If you have a Smart thermostat, like a Google Nest, these devices can often work in tandem to keep your home at a base level preferred temperature when you're away.

Lastly, if you are away from home for an extended period of time, have someone you trust check in on your home. It could save your home from damage caused by cold snaps.