Heating costs, keeping pipes from freezing, space heater safety, and clearing snow from walks and cars.
Winter in the US is very different by area. In the South and Southwest it can be mild; in the Midwest, Northeast and mountains it can reach far below freezing. This differs by area; check your local weather service and city.
Heating and costs
Heat may come from gas, electricity (heat pumps, baseboard heaters) or a central boiler (radiators). In some buildings, heat is included in rent.
Heating bills can double or triple in cold months. Ask the landlord or utility for winter averages before you sign.
Save money: keep doors and windows closed, use curtains at night, put towels or "draft stoppers" at drafty doors, and lower the thermostat at night.
Many utilities offer budget billing to spread costs evenly, and low-income households may get help from LIHEAP.
Report broken heat to the landlord right away. Many places require heat in rentals.
Frozen pipes
Water pipes can freeze and burst when it is very cold, causing floods.
1
Do not turn the heat off when you travel. Keep it at a moderate temperature; many guides say not below 55°F (13°C).
2
On very cold nights, open cabinet doors under sinks so warm air reaches pipes.
3
Let a tap drip slowly on the coldest nights.
4
Disconnect garden hoses from outside taps.
5
Know where your home's water shut-off valve is. If a pipe bursts, turn it off and call maintenance.
Space heaters
Keep them 3 feet (1 meter) from anything that can burn: beds, curtains, clothes.
Plug them straight into the wall, never into an extension cord or power strip.
Turn them off when you leave or sleep.
Never heat your home with the oven, gas stove, grill or a generator indoors. They cause carbon monoxide poisoning. Make sure your CO alarm works.
Snow and ice
Many cities require homeowners and sometimes tenants to clear the sidewalk in front of the home within a set time after snow. Check your lease and city rules.
Apartments usually clear walkways and parking lots, but not always your car.
Buy a snow shovel, an ice scraper for the car, and ice melt (salt). Pet-safe ice melt exists.
Walk carefully; black ice is hard to see. Wear boots with a good grip.
Clear snow from your car's roof and lights before driving.
Common mistakes
Setting the heat very low to save money, then a pipe freezes and floods the unit below.