North Idaho winters are no joke — freezing temperatures, heavy snow, and the occasional ice storm. A little preparation in October and November goes a long way toward keeping your home safe, warm, and efficient all winter.
Protect against the freeze
- Insulate exposed pipes: Pipes in crawl spaces, garages, and attics are most vulnerable. Foam pipe insulation is inexpensive and easy to install.
- Know your main water shutoff: If a pipe does burst, shutting off water fast limits damage. Make sure everyone in the household knows where it is.
- Keep the heat on: Never let the house drop below about 55 degrees, even when you’re away — it keeps pipes from freezing.
- Let faucets drip in extreme cold: During severe cold snaps, a slow drip on faucets served by exposed pipes can prevent freezing.
Heating and energy
- Stock up on filters and fuel: Keep spare furnace filters on hand, and if you heat with wood or pellets, make sure your supply is stacked and dry before the first storm.
- Seal air leaks: Attic hatches, recessed lights, and plumbing penetrations are common culprits for heat loss. Sealing them pays back all winter.
- Check insulation: Adequate attic insulation keeps heat where it belongs and helps prevent ice dams on the roof.
Be ready for storms
- Assemble an emergency kit: Flashlights, batteries, blankets, bottled water, and a few days of nonperishable food — the basics that matter if the power goes out.
- Prepare snow equipment: Service the snowblower, stock ice melt, and keep shovels accessible before the first snowfall.
- Check on neighbors: Winter is when community matters most. A quick check on elderly or new neighbors during a cold snap is what village life is all about.
Winter in the Inland Northwest rewards the prepared. Take care of these basics now, and you can spend the season enjoying the snow instead of fighting it.
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