Before Cold Weather Arrives (October-November)
This is when preparation costs the least and matters the most. Westchester's average January low is 22 degrees Fahrenheit. Putnam County averages 17 degrees. Fairfield County runs 24 to 25 degrees. Extreme cold snaps regularly push overnight lows into the single digits across all four counties.
Heating system: - Schedule a furnace tune-up ($80 to $200). Getting the tune-up done in October means you are not calling someone at emergency rates in January. - Replace the air filter. If you cannot remember the last time you changed it, change it now. - Test your thermostat by raising it 5 degrees and confirming the system responds.
Pipe protection: - Insulate exposed pipes in basements, crawl spaces, and garages. Foam pipe insulation costs $1 to $3 per linear foot. - Disconnect garden hoses before the first freeze. - Know where your main water shutoff valve is and confirm it turns easily.
Safety devices: - Test CO detectors by pressing the test button. Replace batteries. Replace any detector older than 7 years. - Test smoke detectors. - Confirm your fire extinguisher is charged (check the pressure gauge).
Exterior: - Clean gutters after leaves fall. Blocked gutters are one of the main causes of ice dams. - Check weatherstripping around doors and windows. Replacing a $12 door sweep now saves meaningfully on heating bills all winter. - Service your chimney if you use a fireplace. Creosote buildup is a fire hazard.
Winter Emergency Supply Checklist
Keep these supplies somewhere you can reach them in the dark, which is exactly when you will need them.
Light: - At least 2 flashlights with fresh batteries - Battery-powered or hand-crank lantern - Extra AA and AAA batteries - Candles and matches (as backup only, candles start fires)
Heat: - At least one space heater with tip-over protection - Sleeping bags rated to 20 degrees Fahrenheit or lower, or heavy blankets - Hand warmers (chemical, single-use)
Power: - Battery bank (power brick) for charging phones - Battery-powered or hand-crank emergency radio - Car charger for phone as backup
Water and food: - At least 1 gallon of water per person per day for 3 days - Non-perishable food for 3 to 5 days (canned goods, crackers, peanut butter) - Manual can opener
Other: - First aid kit - 7-day supply of any prescription medications - Copies of important documents in a waterproof bag - Cash in small bills (ATMs and card readers do not work in power outages) - Phone numbers written on paper (phones die)
Emergency Numbers to Save in Your Phone
| County | Utility | Emergency Number |
|---|---|---|
| Westchester (south, electric and gas) | Con Edison | 1-800-752-6633 |
| Westchester (north, gas) / Putnam | NYSEG | 1-800-572-1121 |
| Rockland (gas and electric) | Orange and Rockland | 1-800-533-5325 |
| Putnam (some areas, gas and electric) | Central Hudson | 1-800-942-8274 |
| Fairfield County (electric) | Eversource | 877-944-5325 |
| Fairfield County (gas, most areas) | Southern CT Gas | 800-513-8898 |
| Fairfield (Greenwich area, gas) | CT Natural Gas | 860-524-8222 |
| Fairfield (western, electric) | United Illuminating | 800-722-5584 |
| All counties | Emergency / Fire / Police | 911 |
| All areas | Poison Control | 1-800-222-1222 |
If Your Furnace Stops Working
Check these five things before calling anyone: the thermostat (battery, mode, and temperature setting), the circuit breaker labeled "furnace" or "HVAC," the air filter, the pilot light or igniter, and the gas valve on the supply line to the unit.
Half of emergency HVAC calls are resolved by one of those five checks. Emergency HVAC service in this region runs $140 to $600 just for the call-out fee, plus $150 to $275 per hour for labor. The 5-minute thermostat battery check is worth doing before you spend $400 on a midnight service call.
While you wait for a technician, gather your household into one or two rooms, use a space heater with tip-over protection (plugged directly into a wall outlet), and protect pipes by opening cabinet doors under exterior-wall sinks and letting faucets drip.
For step-by-step troubleshooting, emergency heating options, and a full breakdown of repair costs, read the complete guide: Furnace Stopped Working at 2 AM? Do This First.
If Your Pipes Freeze
If a pipe has burst: shut off the main water valve immediately, open faucets to drain remaining pressure, turn off the water heater, then call a plumber. Start cleanup right away. Water sitting for more than 24 hours creates mold conditions inside walls and under floors.
If pipes are frozen but have not burst yet: keep the affected faucet open and apply gentle heat with a hair dryer or heating pad, working from the faucet toward the frozen section. Never use an open flame on pipes.
Pipe freezing risk in this region starts when outdoor temperatures drop below 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Pipes in unheated garages and crawl spaces are vulnerable even above that threshold if they are uninsulated.
For detailed troubleshooting, cost breakdowns, and prevention steps, read the complete guide: Frozen or Burst Pipes? Emergency Steps for Northeast Homes.
If You Lose Power
Power outages in this region during winter are most common during ice storms and nor'easters. They last anywhere from a few hours to several days.
Preserve what you have. Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed. A refrigerator holds safe temperature for 4 hours without power. A freezer holds for 24 to 48 hours if full. A box of dry ice from a gas station extends freezer life significantly.
Protect electronics. Unplug computers, TVs, and appliances. When power returns, voltage surges can damage anything that was plugged in. Plug in essential items one at a time after power is restored.
Stay visible. Use flashlights, not candles, as your primary light source. Candles cause roughly 7,900 home fires per year in the US. If you use candles, never leave them unattended and keep them away from anything that can burn.
Generator safety. Never run a generator inside the house, in an attached garage, or within 20 feet of any window or door. Carbon monoxide from a generator in a garage has killed people in the suburbs of this region. Run generators outside, with the exhaust pointing away from the house, with CO detectors inside.
Keep warm. If heat will be out for more than a few hours, consolidate to one room. Gather blankets and sleeping bags. A 0-degree sleeping bag is a genuine asset in a region that sees extended power outages in January.
Ice Dam Prevention and Response
Ice dams form when heat escapes through the roof, melts snow near the peak, and the meltwater refreezes at the eaves where the roof is colder. The ice backs up under shingles and leaks into the attic and walls.
Prevention: the only lasting fix is proper attic insulation and ventilation. A well-insulated attic keeps the roof surface uniformly cold so snow melts and drains instead of refreezing. Attic insulation and ventilation improvements cost $1,500 to $4,000 but eliminate the problem permanently.
Short-term response: Do NOT hack at the ice dam with a hammer or ice pick. This damages shingles and underlayment. Instead, fill a panty hose leg or mesh tube with calcium chloride ice melt (not rock salt). Lay it vertically across the dam so it creates a channel for water to drain. This is slow but safe.
Roof rakes with long handles let you pull snow off the lower portion of the roof from the ground. Removing the snow within 3 to 4 feet of the eaves after each storm is the most effective prevention short of fixing the attic.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How cold does it get in Westchester and Fairfield County?
- Average January lows run 22 degrees Fahrenheit in White Plains, 24 to 25 degrees in Bridgeport and Stamford, and 17 to 20 degrees in Putnam County. Extreme cold snaps push overnight lows into the single digits across all four counties at least once most winters. February is typically the coldest month by overnight temperature.
- At what indoor temperature do pipes start to freeze?
- Pipes in interior walls rarely freeze until outdoor temperatures drop well below 20 degrees Fahrenheit. However, pipes in exterior walls, unheated basements, crawl spaces, and attached garages can freeze at higher outdoor temperatures if they are uninsulated. Keeping your thermostat at 55 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, even when the house is unoccupied, prevents freezing in most cases.
- Do I need a permit to install a generator in Westchester or Fairfield County?
- Yes, for any permanently installed standby generator connected to your home's electrical panel. These installations require an electrical permit and inspection in both counties. Portable generators that you run outdoors on extension cords do not require a permit, but must never be operated inside the house, garage, or within 20 feet of any opening. Check with your local building department for specifics, since permit requirements vary by municipality.
- What is the most common cause of house fires in winter?
- Space heaters are the leading cause of home heating fires, responsible for about 1,600 fires and 70 deaths annually in the US. The most common contributing factor is placing the heater too close to combustible materials (furniture, bedding, curtains). Candles are the second most common cause during power outages. Both risks are easily controlled: keep space heaters 3 feet from anything flammable, plug them into wall outlets not extension cords, and never leave them unattended.
- Should I install a whole-house generator or just a portable one?
- Portable generators cost $500 to $3,000 and run specific appliances through extension cords. They must be operated outdoors and refueled manually. Standby generators cost $7,000 to $15,000 installed, run on natural gas or propane, start automatically when power goes out, and power the whole house. For families with young children or medical equipment, a standby generator is worth considering. For most households, a portable generator with a transfer switch and proper outdoor setup is enough to handle typical outages in this region.
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Alex runs Trusted Local Contractors, connecting homeowners with vetted service professionals across the tri-state area. He compiled this guide using local contractor rates, utility company data, and building code requirements.