Greater Boston is about to get a real “Welcome to New England” weekend: significant snow and the kind of deep freeze that makes houses groan.
Before the first flake falls, I want to make sure your “good bones” are protected. This is my annual reminder: we’ve talked about this before, but when the temperature drops below zero while snow is in the forecast, the stakes get higher.
Here is your battle plan to avoid the dreaded frozen pipes, and to keep your house running smoothly while you’re snowed in:
1. Locate Your Main Water Shut-Off (Right Now) If a pipe does burst, every second counts. Do you know exactly where your main water shut-off is? Is it behind a pile of boxes in the basement? Clear a path to it today. (If you’ve got 201-level questions about how to test and reset your valves, DM Jack.)
2. The Interior/Exterior Shut-off Last chance! If you haven’t turned off your outdoor spigots for the season, do it today. Disconnecting and draining the hose is Step 1. Step 2 is finding the interior shut-off valve for that outdoor spigot. Turn it OFF inside, then go back outside and OPEN the spigot to let any trapped water drain out.
3. Don’t “Set Back” the Thermostat I’m usually a fan of turning the heat down at night to save energy, but not this weekend. When it’s sub-zero, your heating system is already working overtime just to keep up. Keep your thermostat at a consistent temperature (at least 65°F-68°F) day and night. This keeps the internal wall cavities—where your pipes live—from hitting the freezing point.
Especially if your primary heating system is a heat pump, keeping a consistent temperature will help give your system the best possible chance of keeping up. If you have a backup system (like a traditional boiler), this might be the weekend to switch over; heat pumps are great technology, but substantially less efficient and less effective in extreme cold.
4. The “Drip & Open” Rule Open the cabinet doors under your kitchen and bathroom sinks to allow warm air to circulate around the plumbing. For faucets on exterior walls, you might consider letting them run overnight at a tiny drip. And remember: drip both the hot and the cold.
5. Clear the Vents If you have a high-efficiency furnace, tankless hot water heater, or a dryer that vents out the side of the house, keep a path cleared. If those exhaust outlets get buried in a drift, your heat will shut off for safety—the last thing you want in a freeze.
6. Your Power “Plan B” A snowstorm-freeze combo brings elevated risk for power outages. Do you have a backup plan for staying warm?
- Fireplace Safety: If you’re counting on a fireplace, is your wood dry? Is your chimney clear? Never leave a fire unattended, and ensure your CO detectors are in place and working.
- Generator Ready: If you have a generator, test it now. Do you have enough fresh fuel? Remember: Never run a generator indoors or in a garage.
- Space Heater Logic: If you would plan to use electric space heaters to supplement, plug them directly into the wall—never an extension cord—and keep them three feet away from anything flammable.
The “Snowed-In” Bonus: Kate’s Chocolate Chip Cookies Since we’re going to be stuck inside anyway, you might as well have the house smell like brown butter. This is my personal recipe for chocolate chip cookies that are substantial enough to hold some milk when you dunk them (a must, in my opinion), but still a little chewy in the middle.
The Secret: Flaky salt on top before baking! I love Maldon or Baja Gold for this purpose; the extra salt really makes them special.
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 11 tablespoons brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons granulated (cane) sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter, melted
- 1-1 1/2 cups chocolate chips (to your taste)
Beat egg, vanilla, and sugars on high speed until well-combined. Add dry ingredients and mix on low while slowly pouring melted butter into the bowl, until fully mixed. Add chocolate chips. Roll cookies loosely and top with flaky salt if you have it.
Baking straight from adding warm butter will result in a thinner cookie; letting the dough cool a bit will make for a thicker cookie with less spread. Bake at 350 degrees for 13-14 minutes.
Stay warm, stay safe, and if you hear a strange sounds in your house as the wind blows, don’t panic—just check the Substack archives or send me a DM.
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