Utah winters are beautiful and they can be tough on a house. Snow, inversions and a dry cold bring a few local quirks that matter if you are new to the state or to your home. We build with energy‑efficient features and smart details, yet a little seasonal care goes a long way in comfort and savings. Below are our most trusted Utah home winterization tips tailored to life along the Wasatch Front.
Give Your Heating System a Pre‑Winter Check‑Up
Schedule a furnace or heat‑pump tune‑up before the first sustained cold snap. A pro checks safety, airflow and controls, then you keep it humming with clean filters. ENERGY STAR’s guidance is simple and proven: routine maintenance keeps systems at peak performance and prevents surprise breakdowns when contractors are busiest. Test your smoke and CO alarms the same day so the whole home is ready.
Seal the Leaks You Cannot See
Drafts hide in small places. Weatherstrip exterior doors, caulk trim where walls meet window frames and do not skip the attic hatch or pull‑down stairs. Sealing and insulating that access point stops heated air from escaping and keeps insulation from spilling. ENERGY STAR and the U.S. Department of Energy both outline easy steps like adding rigid foam to the hatch and weatherstripping the frame so it latches tight.
Keep Gutters Clear and Ice Dams Away
Clean gutters and make sure soffit and roof vents are open. The best long‑term defense against ice dams is not heat tape. It is stopping warm air from reaching the roof deck, then insulating and venting the attic correctly. Building‑science guidance emphasizes air sealing the ceiling plane first, then insulation and balanced ventilation to keep roof temperatures even.
Prep Your Chimney or Wood Stove
If you burn wood, schedule an inspection and cleaning before heavy winter use. NFPA 211 calls for solid‑fuel chimneys to be inspected at least once a year for soundness and deposits. That quick appointment lowers fire risk and improves draft and efficiency.
Shut Down and Blow Out Your Irrigation
Secondary pressurized irrigation systems wind down in fall, and many districts end the season around early to mid‑October to protect the network. Once supply is off, close your stop‑and‑waste, drain the backflow, then blow out the lines carefully to avoid damage. If you use a contractor, confirm they keep pressures within component limits during blowout.
Keep Sidewall Vents, Gas Meters and Heat Pumps Clear
Many newer furnaces and water heaters vent through low sidewall pipes. After storms, gently clear snow away from those terminations to prevent exhaust blockage and CO hazards. Do the same at your gas meter with a soft brush. Never chip ice with tools. Utilities and industry groups flag snow and ice loads on meters as a safety risk and recommend careful clearing rather than shovels or impacts.
If you heat with a heat pump, give the outdoor unit breathing room. Keep roughly two feet of clearance on all sides, elevate it so meltwater drains away and brush off snow after storms. If the unit becomes encased in ice, switch to Emergency Heat and call a pro. Manufacturers and building‑science pros highlight two to three feet of side clearance and above‑snow placement for reliable winter performance.
More home winterization tips in this category include trimming shrubs near vents, checking downspouts where they pass near meters and keeping walkways to mechanical areas clear after plows pile snow.
Protect Basements and Concrete from Winter Damage
Window wells are common along the Wasatch Front. Add secure covers and maintain grading so snowmelt does not pour in during a warm spell. Lehi City’s flood guidance specifically calls out well covers and proper slope away from foundations to keep basements dry.
If you have a sump, consider a freeze‑relief fitting at the exterior discharge. These anti‑freeze devices let water escape outdoors if a buried line freezes so the pump does not dead‑head and flood the basement. They are simple add‑ons that act as a backup outlet in deep cold.
Treat brand‑new concrete gently through the first winter. Avoid de‑icers on first‑year slabs and use sand for traction near entries. Industry guidance explains that de‑icers increase freeze‑thaw cycling and can scale young concrete. If you must melt ice later, calcium magnesium acetate is generally gentler than many chloride salts so use it sparingly.
Fire Hydrants, Seismic Straps and Smart Humidity
Adopt your hydrant if there is one near your lot. Fire districts ask neighbors to keep a three‑foot zone and a path to the street clear so crews can connect fast during an emergency.
Utah shakes. New homes we build include seismic strapping on water heaters, and it is still smart to verify that straps are in the upper and lower third per the residential code.
Control indoor humidity. In very cold snaps, dial whole‑home humidifiers down to reduce window frost and moisture on cold surfaces. EPA suggests keeping indoor RH below 60 percent with a target band of about 30 to 50 percent, and northern health agencies advise lowering further in extreme cold to prevent condensation.
Utah‑Specific Quirks to Handle Early
Many Utah homes have evaporative coolers. Winterize yours by draining lines, disconnecting water, drying pads, covering the unit and closing the interior damper so warm air does not escape all season.
Our winter inversions can trigger wood‑burning restrictions. Before lighting a fire, check the UtahAir app or DAQ updates so you are in step with mandatory or voluntary no‑burn days that protect neighborhood air quality.
Winter is an ideal time to test for radon because homes are closed up. Utah’s radon program shows high rates across the state, and EPA resources stress that the only way to know is to test and mitigate if levels are at or above 4.0 pCi/L.
Quick Walk‑the‑House Checklist
- Change filters and test smoke and CO alarms
- Check for daylight around weatherstripping and re‑seal as needed
- Shut off and winterize irrigation systems
- Clear gutters and confirm downspouts are open
- Inspect attic access and add weatherstripping if needed
- Schedule a chimney sweep if you burn wood
- Make sure exterior vents are open and your gas meter is visible
- Brush snow from the heat pump and maintain clearance
- Add covers to window wells and confirm grading slopes away from the home
- Keep a three‑foot ring clear around any nearby fire hydrant
- Monitor indoor humidity during extreme cold
- Check the UtahAir app for no‑burn days before using fireplaces
- Set aside sand for traction on first‑year concrete
Make Winter Easy in a New McArthur Home
Our homes are designed for Utah’s climate with thoughtful layouts and efficient systems, and these Utah home winterization tips help you protect that investment and enjoy a quieter, cozier season. If you are comparing floor plans, communities or move‑in timing, contact our team to schedule a tour and see how our details simplify life in winter.
