Winter Home Safety: Heat, Frozen Pipes, Outages and Security
Winter home safety starts with a plan for heat, water, power and access. A security system can help report a problem, but the house also needs maintained heating equipment, working smoke and CO protection, and someone able to respond when you are away.
Use this checklist for a primary residence, seasonal home or extended trip in Maine, New Hampshire or Massachusetts. The goal is to find the gaps before the first sustained cold spell—or before a storm makes travel difficult.
If there is an emergency now
For a fire, sounding CO alarm or suspected CO poisoning, get everyone outside and call 911 from a safe location. Do not wait indoors for a phone notification or monitoring call. Keep clear of standing water that may be in contact with electrical equipment.
Before winter: prepare the heating system and vulnerable rooms
Schedule the appropriate heating service and review fuel delivery if applicable. The CPSC's January 2026 winter guidance recommends an annual professional inspection of fuel-burning heating equipment, chimneys and vents. Detection is an added warning layer, not a substitute for that work.
- Map the plumbing exposure. Identify pipe runs near exterior walls, in crawlspaces or through less-heated additions. Ask about appropriate insulation and air sealing.
- Review separate heating zones. A warm main floor may conceal a problem in a distant room or basement space.
- Locate shutoffs. Make sure an authorized responder knows how to reach the domestic water shutoff without interfering with fire protection.
- Check alarms and sensors. Follow each device's testing and maintenance instructions; coordinate monitored-system testing with the alarm company first.
Low-temperature sensors can watch selected spaces, while water sensors watch locations where escaped water could collect. They answer different questions and do not replace proper heating and plumbing preparation.
During a power outage: protect people first
Use generators and temporary heat safely
Run portable generators outdoors, at least 20 feet from the home, with exhaust directed away from nearby buildings. Never run one in a garage, basement or shed. For electric space heaters, keep combustibles at least three feet away, plug directly into a wall outlet and turn the heater off when sleeping. Use battery lighting instead of candles. These are current CPSC precautions; follow the equipment's instructions as well.
Fuel-burning equipment can produce carbon monoxide, a gas you cannot see or smell. For more on alarms and emergency action, read our winter carbon monoxide guide. Smoke, CO and fuel-gas detection are different functions; do not assume one device covers all three.
Know what the alarm battery actually supports
A backup battery may keep the alarm panel and its connected functions operating for a limited time. It does not power the house's heating plant, sump pump, router or every camera. A compatible, active cellular alarm connection can provide an alternative to broadband, but equipment, battery condition and cellular availability still matter.
Before winter, ask which alerts remain available after loss of power or internet, how communication failures are reported and when batteries were last assessed. If the app shows a device offline, an old status reading is not confirmation that the home is currently warm or dry.
Before a trip: decide whether the home stays heated or is winterized
Make this decision with the appropriate heating and plumbing professionals. A home kept in service needs an operating heat source and regular checks; a properly winterized property needs a building-specific shutdown plan. Do not simply close a valve and assume all plumbing, appliances or heating loops have been protected.
Maine Emergency Management Agency advises leaving heat no lower than 55°F and arranging daily checks when away, or properly draining and shutting off the water system while excluding indoor sprinkler systems. The right plan for your building may require additional measures. Electronic alerts complement physical checks.
| Confirm | What the person needs |
|---|---|
| Access | A working key or individual code, plus any alarm-account authorization required for their role. |
| Heat and water | The areas that must stay heated, relevant sensor locations and safe domestic-shutoff information. |
| Contacts | Your reachable number, the alarm company, plumber and heating contractor. |
| Storm checks | An agreed visit plan and a backup contact if weather prevents the first person reaching the house. |
| Notifications | Confirmation of who receives low-temperature, water, power and alarm events, and what action each event calls for. |
For properties used seasonally, our coastal-home guide adds detail on caretaker access, communications and exterior exposure.
Keep everyday security practical through winter
Check that exterior doors close and latch properly, lighting covers the intended paths and outdoor camera views remain useful after snowfall. Review guest and contractor access before leaving, arm the system in the appropriate mode and arrange for visible deliveries to be collected.
Plan these precautions around how the home will be used and who can check it. A camera has a different role from an intrusion alarm or professional monitoring. Our residential service overview explains how the pieces can work together.
If you receive a freeze or water alert
Contact the person who can safely check the property and the relevant service professional. A low-temperature restore message does not establish that the plumbing is intact. If pipes may be frozen, do not use a torch or open flame to thaw them. Stay clear of electrical hazards around water and get qualified help.
Prepare the parts of the home you cannot watch
Cunningham can review water and temperature detection, alarm communications and your contact plan before winter travel. Tell us about the house, its heating zones and how long it will be unattended.
Plan environmental protectionRequest a winter-readiness review
