Climate change means summers are getting hotter, but that isn’t the only impact. On the opposite side of that coin, winters are getting colder and harsher. Even in urban centers, surviving these extreme conditions isn’t always easy. The Texas winter storm of 2021 claimed 246 lives, though some estimates put the number at close to 700. The power grid collapsed and left people without heat or water for days.
Going off the grid might seem like the perfect solution, but staying alive during these harsh conditions isn’t easy. How should you prepare for living off the grid in the winter? There are many things to consider. Here are the most vital
Stock Up
Do you know the old story of the ants and the grasshopper? Here’s a quick recap for the unfamiliar. The grasshopper made fun of the ants for spending the summer stocking up and preparing for winter — until wintertime rolled around and the grasshopper, who hadn’t prepared, starved to death.
Don’t be the grasshopper.
More people are starting homesteads every year, but it’s important to be as self-sufficient as possible. Ensure you’re stocked up on everything you’ll need for winter. Be sure to include:
- Food: Opt for canned goods since it will be harder to get your hands on fresh supplies.
- Water: Make sure you have a backup supply if you use a well that might freeze.
- Medical supplies: Now is the time to restock that first-aid kit.
You’ll want to stock up on anything you won’t be able to make or forage during the winter. If you live in an area with a lot of snow, you can consider this a backup water source. Fresh snowmelt is usually regarded as safe to drink, but in most cases, you’ll want to treat your melted snow like rainwater and purify it accordingly.
Getting out of your house in the winter, especially if you live in an area that experiences heavy snowfall, can be challenging. That’s why ensuring you have everything you need on hand is vital.
Schedule an Energy Audit
Even if you’re not attached to the local power grid, consider finding a company that offers energy audits. These services help you determine where you might be wasting power and what changes you should make to create the most efficient home.
Energy efficiency is essential when surviving harsh winters off the grid — and we’re not just talking about lightbulbs or Energy Star appliances. It also refers to the thermal efficiency of your home — how well it maintains interior temperatures despite outdoor weather conditions. The best off-grid power system won’t help if your home bleeds hot air every time you turn the heater on.
An energy audit can cost anywhere from $100 to $1,000, depending on the size of your home and rates in your area. However, it’s worth the expense. Spending a bit of coin on an energy audit can mean the difference between being toasty warm or layering on every piece of clothing you own to try and stave off the cold.
Prepare the Indoors
These preparation suggestions are divided into two sections — tips for inside your home and tips for the exterior.
Insulation and Weatherstripping
Hopefully, your off-grid home already has plenty of insulation and weatherstripping. Creating an airtight property is always the best option for off-grid living. Before the weather starts getting cold, check the insulation and weatherstripping on all your doors and windows. Fix any damage or wear and tear and ensure everything is well sealed before temperatures fall.
Windows
Old single-pane windows are some of the worst offenders when it comes to wasting energy. You might not be paying a typical utility bill if you’re living off the grid, but that means you’re stealing from yourself.
Not upgrading your windows means you’re wasting more fuel or battery power trying to keep your home warm. Upgrading your windows to energy-efficient alternatives will help keep you more comfortable and reduce your overall energy usage in the long run.
Heating
How are you planning to keep your home warm during the winter? Regardless of the details, now is the time to stock up. Ensure you’ve got plenty of battery backups for electric heaters and enough solar panels or diesel generators to keep the lights on. Make sure you order your fuel deliveries early for gas or pellet furnaces. The closer you get to winter, the more expensive that refueling will be and the harder it will be to get everything you need.
If you plan to use a wood-fired stove, ensure you store plenty of chopped and dried wood. You can always cut down more trees if you need fuel, but it’s a hassle in the snow.
Thermostat
Set your thermostat to 65 degrees if your home uses central heating or air conditioning. It’s warm enough to be comfortable for most people but cool enough that you’re not burning fuel trying to keep the space heated.
Fireplace
Schedule a professional chimney cleaning and maintenance service for your fireplace. A clogged chimney can dump smoke or carbon monoxide into your home or even start a fire. Before setting up your fireplace for the winter, make sure it’s not going to put you at risk when all you’re trying to do is stay warm.
Smoke and CO Detectors
Fire isn’t the only hazard if you use a wood stove or fireplace to stay warm. At least 11 deaths were confirmed to be caused by carbon monoxide poisoning in the Texas winter storm. During the same period, more than 1,400 people ended up in emergency rooms seeking treatment for the same.
While you’re prepping for winter, make sure to test and put fresh batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. It’s a simple task that could save your life.
Attics
You’re not the only one trying to escape the cold. Attics, especially unfinished ones with lots of exposed insulation, are prime habitats for mice, rats, squirrels and other rodents. It’s a warm and dry space to spend the winter, so it’s almost always a target for pests.
Make sure you seal up any holes that might let these creatures into your home. Any established rodent infestation should be dealt with immediately upon discovery to prevent them from becoming a problem in the future.
Doors
Where are you going to spend most of your time during the winter? If you’ve got a large space, make sure you’re closing off rooms that you won’t use much during the colder months. This reduces the square footage you need to heat, so you’ll use less fuel or energy to keep things comfortable.
Prepare the Outdoors
Once the interior is ready for the colder months, you still have the exterior to take care of. What do you need to do to prep the outside of your home?
Pipes and Water
Water’s unique tendency to expand when it freezes means pipes are vulnerable to damage once the temperature starts to fall. You can prevent your pipes from freezing by insulating them and keeping the water running on the coldest nights. Make sure everything is well wrapped and ready for winter before Jack Frost shows his ugly mug.
Protecting your pipes is essential if you rely on a well for your primary water supply. Ensure you have plenty of backup options in case the worst happens and the well freezes.
Landscaping
Now is the time to ensure that your yard and plants are ready for winter. Anything that’s staying outside during this season should be insulated. Stop fertilizing or watering your lawn in September or October — whenever the weather gets cold. Cut it down shorter than you would during the year, and remove any extra brush or debris that might create a hazard once they’re covered with snow.
Trees
Trees on your property are lovely, but ones overhanging your home — especially if they’re dead — can create a massive hazard when they’re weighed down with snow. Before the first flake falls, trim back any trees that might drop limbs on your home. Remove dead trees as you find them, especially if they’re near your house or could fall and block your driveway.
Try to trim back your living trees before they drop their leaves for the season to ensure you’re doing as little damage to them as possible.
Salt for Sidewalks
Concrete sidewalks or driveways could become hazardous when they start to freeze. Make sure you have salt or other deicing chemicals handy to keep you from slipping, falling and injuring yourself. If you don’t want to risk damaging the local ecosystem with salt or chemicals, stock up on sand or kitty litter. You can toss it on icy paths to provide more traction without potentially harming the environment.
Drainage
Eventually, the winter will end and the snow will melt. Where is all that melted snow going to go? Take some time to study your property’s drainage so you’re prepared when spring rolls around. If it looks like you’re going to flood parts of your property with snow runoff, you may need to take steps to prevent this damage before it occurs.
Gutters
Clogged gutters are a mess on the best of days. Melting snow could cause them to overflow and dump the runoff into your foundation. Clean all the autumn leaves out of your gutters before the snow starts to fall. You should also consider investing in gutter guards that let water flow but prevent debris like leaves from causing clogs.
Keep the Lights On
Keeping the lights on might be difficult, especially if you live in one of the northern latitudes that only gets a few hours of sunlight a day during the winter. Opt for multiple forms of power generation, from solar to diesel. Tapping into your local power utilities isn’t an option if you’re trying to stay completely off the grid. You’re trying to be self-sufficient, and that requires having extra contingency plans.
Prep for Snow Removal
You can wait until all the snow melts, but that doesn’t do you a lot of good when you’re snowed in and trying to get out to the woodpile. Make sure you’ve got everything you need for snow removal. Invest in a snowblower if you have a way to keep it fueled. Otherwise, a good shovel and a strong back are all you’ll need to get the snow off your drive and walkways.
Keeping basic paths clear is important for more than just getting out of your house. You’ll also have to be prepared for emergencies if they arise.
Transportation
You need a vehicle that can move you over or through the snow as it falls. Trying to be self-sufficient is great until an emergency happens and you can’t get to the hospital because of the snow in your driveway. You’ve got a couple of options here.
The first is opting for a vehicle with all-wheel-drive and snow chains that you can navigate through deep snow. Keep the driveway clear so you can get from your home to your destination and back again. Ensure you have enough fuel on hand to remain operational.
The second option is a snowmobile. These single-purpose vehicles might not seem worth the investment until the snow is too deep to drive through and you need to find a way to get to town. Snowmobiles can carry you over multiple feet of snow and you don’t have to worry about getting stuck, though you do need to be on the lookout for hidden obstacles obscured by the fresh powder.
Get Ready for the Cold
Whether you’re experienced with off-grid living or this is your first winter without it, now is the time to start preparing. Don’t be the grasshopper. Leaving your preparations until the last minute will come back to bite you. You may not starve to death as the insect did in the story, but your winter will not be a pleasant one. Take the time to be prepared so you can sit out the storms with the knowledge that you’re safe and secure.
Author Bio:
Jane is the editor-in-chief of Environment.co. She is passionate about sustainability, gardening and homesteading.
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