Preparing Your Home
for Winter

South Jersey averages overnight lows in the low 20s Fahrenheit during January, with occasional dips into the single digits during polar vortex events. These extreme cold snaps are when pipes freeze and furnaces fail.

Our region experiences dozens of freeze-thaw cycles each winter. This is hard on driveways, walkways, foundations, and exterior paint. Water seeps into cracks, freezes, expands, and makes the cracks larger. Proper sealing and drainage are essential.

A burst pipe is one of the most destructive home emergencies. Water flooding a finished basement can cause $10,000 to $50,000 in damage. Most burst pipes happen in unheated spaces like basements, crawlspaces, and attics, or along exterior walls where insulation is insufficient.

Heating is the largest energy expense for most South Jersey homes, typically accounting for 40 to 50 percent of the winter utility bill. Proper insulation, weatherstripping, and an efficient heating system can reduce your heating costs by 20 to 30 percent.

Check your attic insulation depth. South Jersey homes should have at least 12 to 15 inches of fiberglass or cellulose insulation, which is about R-38 to R-49. If your insulation is level with or below the floor joists, you need more. Insulation is measured in R-value, and the higher the R-value, the better it resists heat flow. Adding attic insulation is one of the highest-return improvements you can make, often paying for itself in energy savings within two to three years.

Walk around your home on a windy day and feel for drafts around every exterior door and window. A simple test: hold a lit incense stick near the edges and watch the smoke. If it wavers, you have a draft. Replace worn weatherstripping on doors with adhesive foam tape or V-strip. For windows, use removable caulk cord pressed into the gap between the sash and frame, or apply shrink-film plastic kits for the season. These cost under $20 per window and can reduce heat loss significantly.

The rim joist, where the floor framing meets the foundation wall, is one of the biggest sources of heat loss in homes with basements. In many South Jersey homes, this area is completely uninsulated. Seal rim joists with spray foam insulation or rigid foam board cut to fit and sealed with caulk. This single improvement can noticeably reduce drafts on the first floor and lower your heating bill.

On exterior walls, the electrical outlets and switch plates are often small but significant air leaks. Install foam outlet gaskets behind the cover plates. These cost about $1 each and take 30 seconds to install. Turn off the circuit breaker first, remove the cover plate, place the gasket over the outlet, and replace the cover. You will feel the difference immediately on a cold day.

Clean gutters are your first defense. When gutters are clogged with leaves and debris, water cannot drain properly. It overflows, freezes, and builds up along the roof edge. Clean your gutters thoroughly after all leaves have fallen, typically in late November in South Jersey. Ensure downspouts extend at least four feet away from the foundation so the water drains away from your home.

The real solution to ice dams is a cold attic. Make sure your attic has adequate insulation to prevent warm air from your living spaces from reaching the roof deck. Also ensure attic ventilation is working properly, with soffit vents and ridge vents or gable vents allowing cold air to circulate through the attic. If you can see the attic floor through the insulation, you need more. Check that attic vents are not blocked by stored items or debris.

Never chop, hack, or chip ice off your roof. You will damage the shingles. Do not use rock salt or ice melt on the roof, as the chemicals can corrode flashing and gutters. If you have an ice dam that is causing interior leaks, call a professional. They use steam machines to melt channels through the ice without damaging the roof. For temporary relief, you can use a roof rake to remove snow from the lower edge of the roof, which reduces the melting water available to form ice dams.

Schedule a professional chimney sweep every year before you light your first fire. A certified chimney sweep will remove creosote buildup, check for cracks or damage in the flue liner, inspect the damper for proper operation, and check the chimney cap and crown for damage. The cost is typically $150 to $300 and is well worth the peace of mind.

Test your carbon monoxide detectors before you start using your fireplace or furnace for the season. Replace batteries if needed. Carbon monoxide is odorless, colorless, and deadly. If you do not have CO detectors on every level of your home, install them. This is a matter of life and safety for your family.

Only burn seasoned hardwood, not construction lumber, plywood, or painted wood, which release toxic chemicals. Keep the glass doors open while the fire is burning to allow room air to feed the fire, but close them when the fire is out to prevent warm air from escaping up the chimney. Always use a fireplace screen to catch sparks. Never leave a fire unattended, and make sure it is fully extinguished before going to bed.

Shrink-film window insulation kits are one of the best temporary solutions for drafty windows. They cost about $10 to $15 per window, install with double-sided tape, and shrink tight with a hair dryer. The clear film is nearly invisible and creates a dead air space that significantly reduces heat loss. Remove them in spring when the weather warms up.

Install a door sweep on the bottom of every exterior door. Door sweeps cost about $10 to $20 and screw into the bottom of the door. For a quick fix, use a fabric draft stopper at the base of the door. Also check the weatherstripping around the sides and top of each door. If it is cracked, compressed, or missing, replace it with adhesive foam tape or V-strip weatherstripping.

Walk around the exterior of your home and look for gaps where the window or door frame meets the siding. These gaps let cold air in and warm air out. Fill them with exterior-grade caulk or expanding foam sealant. Pay special attention to the areas where different building materials meet, like where the siding meets the foundation or where the chimney meets the roof.

Many homes in Burlington County were built before modern insulation standards were established. Historic homes in towns like Burlington City, Mount Holly, and Moorestown may have uninsulated walls, single-pane windows, and original heating systems. These homes need extra attention to weatherization and draft sealing. If you own an older home, consider a professional energy audit to identify the biggest opportunities for improvement.

Parts of Burlington County have a high water table, especially near the Delaware River and in areas like Riverside, Delran, and Cinnaminson. During winter, heavy snowmelt or rain on frozen ground can lead to basement flooding. Make sure your sump pump is working and test it before winter. Have a backup battery-powered sump pump or a generator for prolonged power outages. Check that your gutters and downspouts are directing water well away from the foundation.

South Jersey is vulnerable to nor'easters, which can bring heavy snow, high winds, and coastal flooding. These storms can knock out power for days. If you live in a flood-prone area, know your evacuation route and have a plan for moving vehicles to higher ground. Keep sandbags on hand if you have experienced flooding in the past.

In South Jersey, the first hard freeze typically arrives in mid-to-late November. Plan to have all your winter preparations completed by November 15. This gives you a comfortable buffer before the cold weather sets in. Set a recurring reminder on your phone for October 1 to start your winter prep, and November 1 to finish any remaining tasks.