Five Home Tips for a New England Winter

January 31, 2024

During the winter months in Western MA and Northern CT, the days are shorter and the cold nights are longer, making us spend more time indoors. The team at PayLessForOil.com knows that with you and your family spending more time in your home, it’s important to keep you all safe during storms, blizzards, and more. But what are the best ways to accomplish this goal? Our experts have put together this helpful list of tips to help keep you and your home protected during the winter months here in New England. Keep reading to learn more!

Top 5 Tips to Stay Safe During a MA & CT Winter

Prepare for Winter Storms

Winter is a fickle season here in New England, and there’s no telling when we’ll see our first big snowstorm. That’s why it’s a good idea to check the condition of your snow shovels, gloves and window scrapers as early as possible. Move and store snowy-weather supplies near the door where you can access them easily during or after a storm. Keeping the pantry stocked with food, bottled water, candles and flashlights in case of power outages is always a good idea, and if you own a generator, you should ensure that it starts and you have plenty of fuel to keep it running.

Keep an Eye on Trees

If you live near the woods or have a lot of trees around your home, condo, or apartment, keep an eye on the trees during a storm. A buildup of heavy snow on tree limbs can make them more prone to breaking. If you can, try to brush snow off tree limbs after each big snowfall. You can use home items like a shovel or a broom to extend your reach. If a limb does fall, have it removed as soon as the weather permits to avoid creating a hazard.

Make Sure You Have Heating Oil

The last thing anyone wants during a snowstorm is to discover that they’ve run out of heating oil. Check your oil tank gauge before snow is expected to fall and place an order with us when your tank hits 1/4 full. That gives us a window of time to get your fuel to you before you run out, or before winter weather arrives.

Let in The Fresh Air

It may be chilly outside, but that’s no reason to keep the windows locked tight. Shutting up the house lets indoor pollutants accumulate, especially if your home is fairly new and therefore airtight. Let in the cool, crisp air of winter by opening the windows for a few minutes a few times a week to let the fresh air in and pollutants out. If you do not wish to open your windows in winter, our friends at FSi Oil and Propane offer air purifiers that you can use in your home.

Prevent Icy Hazards

Take steps to deal with any home issues that could prove dangerous in icy weather, like ice dams from your gutter and on your roof pushing water into your home. Turn off water to exterior faucets, drain them, and leave them open throughout the winter to minimize chances of frozen, burst pipes. Other ways to prevent icy hazards include:

Making sure outdoor stair railings aren’t wobbly, which could cause someone to slip and fall on iced-over steps
Having salt prepared to throw on your steps after an icy storm
Wrapping exposed piping in your basement and garage with heat tape, which will keep water flowing freely in cold snaps

Snow Removal

Either during or soon after each storm, clear snow and ice from walkways. If you have a snow blower, make sure to fuel up before the storm, in case it’s suddenly needed. If you are using a shovel, try to go out and clear the snow every 3-4 inches. If you wait until the snow is frozen and heavy, it will be significantly worse to shovel, and on your back! And as always, please keep shovel a path and have easy access to your oil tank so that your heating oil can be safely delivered to your home.

Need Heating Oil? Get in Touch with PayLessForOil.com Now!

Winter in New England can be beautiful, and taking these preventative steps listed above can help your family safely enjoy winter this season. If you need a heating oil delivery, remember that PayLessForOil.com is here for you with low heating oil prices and prompt delivery service. Reach out to us now to schedule your next heating oil delivery, before the next big snowstorm!