Get ready
What to sort first for each kind of bad weather, the gear that helps, and who to call when a job needs a licensed hand.
Hazards
Power outages
Keeping the furnace, fridge and sump pump running when the grid goes down, and connecting backup power safely.
Ice storms
Freezing rain, ice on lines, roofs and trees, and the long outages that follow.
Snowstorms
Clearing heavy snow from the drive and the roof, and stopping ice dams.
Cold snaps
Safe heat, pipes that stay unfrozen and an alert before the house gets cold.
Flooding
Keeping water out of the basement, a pump running when it rises, and what to do first if it gets in.
Wind and storms
Surge protection, backup power and help with fallen trees after high wind.
Heat waves
Keeping one room cool through a run of very hot days.
Wildfire smoke
Clean air indoors when smoke drifts in, and masks for going out.
Problems
Backup power for your home
Four ways to keep the furnace, fridge and sump pump running through an outage, and which of them need an electrician.
Frozen pipes
Keeping water pipes above freezing in a cold snap or an outage, and what to do when one freezes.
Flooded basement and sewer backup
Keeping groundwater and sewer water out of the basement, and the pumps, alarms and valves that do it.
Water damage and mould
Drying out within 48 hours after a flood, sewer backup or burst pipe, and when to call a restoration firm.
Ice dams
Why ice builds up at the eaves, how to stop it forming, and who clears it when it does.
Snow removal
Clearing the driveway and the roof edge after heavy snow, safely, or hiring a contract to do it.
Storm and tree damage
Fallen trees, downed lines and storm repairs: what to leave alone, and who to call first.
Emergency kit
What to have ready so your household can look after itself for at least 72 hours without power or tap water.
