First Freeze Home Checklist (Free Printable)
Before the first forecast night at or below 32°F, disconnect and drain hoses, shut off and drain outdoor faucets and sprinkler lines, and protect pipes in unheated spaces. Then check the furnace, vents, and alarms before deep cold. Print this page or download the free PDF, no email needed. HomeGuard Weather is a pre-launch iPhone app with no hardware, planned at $59.99/year or $9.99/month, that tells you when the first freeze is in your forecast.
Or print this page from your browser. The menu, waitlist, and footer are left off the printout.
Before the first freeze: outdoor water
- Disconnect, drain, and store every garden hose.
- Close the indoor shutoff for each outdoor faucet if you have one, then open the outside faucet to drain.
- Put an insulated cover on exposed outdoor faucets (hose bibs).
- Shut off and drain sprinkler or irrigation lines, or book a professional blowout.
- Empty and store rain barrels, fountains, and birdbaths that can crack.
Before deep cold: pipes inside
- Insulate exposed pipe in the garage, crawl space, attic, or unheated basement.
- Find the main water shutoff and make sure it turns.
- Keep garage doors closed if water lines run through the garage.
- On very cold nights, open sink cabinets on exterior walls.
- In very cold weather, let a faucet served by exposed pipe drip.
Heat, vents, and alarms
- Have the furnace or boiler serviced and put in a clean filter.
- Keep the thermostat at the same setting day and night during deep cold.
- Find the furnace intake and exhaust vents outside so snow can be cleared from them.
- Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
If you will be away
- Keep the heat on and set no lower than 55°F.
- Ask someone to check the house during a cold stretch or power outage.
- For a long trip, shut off the main water and drain the lines.
More detail in what temperature to set your thermostat when away in winter.
The one rule if a pipe freezes
Never thaw a frozen pipe with an open flame. Keep the faucet open and warm the pipe with a hair dryer, heating pad, or hot towels, and call a licensed plumber if you cannot find or reach the frozen section. If a pipe bursts, shut off the main water valve first.
When to use this checklist
The first freeze is the deadline, not a calendar date. Start when the forecast shows the first night at or below 32°F, or when your area gets its first frost advisory or freeze watch. See frost advisory vs. freeze watch vs. freeze warning for what each alert means, and when to winterize before the first freeze for when that night usually arrives.
Each item has its own guide: when to disconnect garden hoses, how to prevent frozen pipes, the hard freeze warning checklist, and winter storm home prep. More printables are in the free checklist library.
Why an app, not another weather alert
A printed checklist tells you what to do. HomeGuard tells you when, by watching the forecast for your home and opening the right checklist before the first freeze, deep cold, or snow. It is software only, with no sensor, hub, valve, or device install, and it does not replace National Weather Service alerts.
Sources and further reading
This checklist follows the American Red Cross frozen-pipe guidance, the National Weather Service cold-weather alerts, IBHS Winter Weather Ready guidance, and Illinois Extension outdoor-plumbing winterization guidance.
FAQ
When should I do a first freeze checklist?
Before the first forecast night at or below 32°F, not on a calendar date. A frost advisory or freeze watch is a good signal to start. Outdoor water jobs come first, because trapped water in hoses and outdoor faucets is what freezes first.
Do I still need to winterize if I have frost-free outdoor faucets?
Yes. A frost-free faucet only drains if the hose is disconnected. Leave a hose attached and water stays trapped in the faucet, where it can freeze and split the pipe inside the wall.
Is the printable checklist free?
Yes. The First Freeze Home Checklist is free to print or download as a color or ink-friendly PDF. No email, account, or signup is needed.
Is HomeGuard Weather available in the App Store?
Not yet. HomeGuard Weather is pre-launch and collecting early-access interest for the iPhone app. Planned pricing is $59.99/year or $9.99/month.