Upstate Guide
Your guide

Winter in Walton.

The short version, and it bends to your house. Not everything you could do. Just what's worth knowing.

Tell me about your place

Four quick taps. Saved on this device only, nobody else sees it, and you can change it anytime.

Where are you?
How do you heat?
Your water?
Little ones at home?

Frost watch

Checking the nearest weather station…

Your winter, in short

Answer a couple above and I'll sharpen this to your place.

For everyone

True no matter whose house it is.

Winter tires before the first storm

In Walton, tires are part of the winter system, not an accessory. Get them on early, and keep them on through a tricky March that freezes at night.

Keep the house above 55°F in a cold snap

That's the line where pipes start to freeze. On the coldest nights, let a faucet drip and open the cabinet doors under exposed pipes. Never thaw a pipe with an open flame.

Never run your heat fuel down to nothing

Whatever you burn, a storm or a cold snap is the worst time to discover you're almost out.

Clear your vents after every storm

Snow over a furnace, boiler, pellet-stove or dryer vent can push carbon monoxide back into the house. Walk around and look after it snows.

In the thaw, watch where the water goes

March is winter at night and spring by day. Move snow away from the foundation and keep drains and downspouts clear, so melt doesn't end up in your basement.

If money's tight: New York's HEAP program helps eligible households pay for heat, including electric, gas, oil, propane, wood and pellets. Worth a look before winter bites.