Colorado Homeowner Guide
Before the First Hard Freeze: How to Winterize Your Colorado Home
A practical plan for sprinklers, exterior spaces, heating systems, winter travel and vacant properties.
To winterize a Colorado home, remove water from vulnerable exterior plumbing, protect the irrigation system and backflow device, service the heating system, seal obvious air leaks, clear drainage paths, secure outdoor items and prepare for power or heat interruptions. If you leave during a freeze, keep the heat operating, arrange monitoring and a local check, and know how the property’s plumbing, boiler and fire protection systems interact before shutting off any water.
Drain hoses and outdoor faucets and have the irrigation system winterized.
A National Weather Service starting point for heat while away, not a guarantee for every home.
Use working carbon monoxide alarms and smoke alarms in the recommended locations.
Start With the Highest Risk
What should you do first to prepare a Colorado home for winter?
Do not wait for a calendar date. Watch the forecast and finish the water sensitive work before the first freeze. Colorado temperature swings can expose weak points when trapped water freezes, expands and later thaws.
Exterior Winter Preparation
How do you winterize sprinklers, patios and the outside of the home?
The exterior goal is simple: remove trapped water, keep drainage working and prevent loose or moisture-sensitive items from becoming damaged.
Sprinklers and backflow equipment
Turn off the irrigation supply, follow the system manufacturer’s shutdown process and arrange a proper blowout when the system requires it. Drain and protect the backflow preventer. An irrigation professional can confirm the sequence and pressure for your equipment.
Hoses, hose bibs and exposed pipes
Disconnect every hose, drain it and store it. Drain exterior faucets and any exposed piping according to the home’s design. An attached hose can prevent a faucet from draining and can leave water vulnerable to freezing behind the wall.
Gutters, downspouts and drainage
Remove leaves and debris, check that downspouts are connected and direct water away from the foundation. Look for low spots or blocked drains before snowmelt adds more water. Use safe access or hire a professional rather than climbing an icy roof.
Furniture, grills and outdoor items
Clean and dry cushions before storing them. Cover or move furniture according to the manufacturer’s guidance, secure light items from wind and protect planters that can crack when wet soil freezes. Never use an outdoor grill or patio heater inside a home, garage or enclosed space.
Landscape and snow equipment
Remove diseased debris, complete appropriate pruning and follow local watering guidance for trees and shrubs. Move shovels, ice melt and a safe traction product where they are easy to reach before the first storm.
Exterior envelope
Check doors, weatherstripping, visible caulk joints and obvious gaps where cold air or moisture can enter. Inspect roof edges and siding from the ground. A qualified contractor should evaluate damaged roofing, flashing or elevated areas.
Local reference: The City of Aurora seasonal water checklist specifically recommends fall sprinkler shutdown, backflow draining, hose disconnection, gutter cleaning and pipe protection.
Interior Comfort and Safety
How should you prepare the furnace and inside plumbing?
A heating system works best when it is maintained, supplied with clean airflow and paired with a home that is not losing conditioned air through obvious gaps.
Schedule a heating check
ENERGY STAR recommends a professional heating checkup in the fall. For fuel-burning equipment, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends yearly professional inspection of the furnace or boiler, fireplace, water heater, chimney and vents.
Check the filter and airflow
Inspect the HVAC filter monthly and replace it when dirty. Keep supply registers and return grilles open and unobstructed. Clear leaves and snow from outdoor heating equipment without blocking required airflow.
Protect vulnerable pipes
Insulate piping in unheated areas and near exterior walls when appropriate. Learn the main water shutoff location. During severe cold, opening sink cabinet doors can help warm air reach vulnerable plumbing.
Seal simple air leaks
Replace failed weatherstripping and seal appropriate gaps around windows and doors. If drafts, moisture or ice suggest a larger enclosure problem, ask a qualified contractor or energy professional to evaluate it.
Test alarms
Place and maintain smoke and carbon monoxide alarms using current manufacturer and CPSC guidance. Test alarms monthly and replace devices or batteries according to their instructions and expiration dates.
Prepare for an outage
Keep flashlights, charged power banks, blankets, medications and basic supplies accessible. Know who to contact if the heat fails, and never use an oven, grill or outdoor heater to warm the home.
Leaving During a Freeze
What should you do if you travel during freezing weather?
The greatest concern is an unnoticed loss of heat or water leak. Build redundancy so a single failed thermostat, furnace or internet connection does not leave the property unobserved.
The National Weather Service advises leaving heat at no lower than 55°F when going away. Treat that as a general starting point. Some homes need a higher setting because of exterior wall plumbing, crawlspaces, additions, older insulation or extreme wind and cold.
Review any absence or vacancy requirements in your insurance policy. A temperature setting alone does not guarantee pipes will not freeze.
Check the forecast and the property. Finish irrigation, hose and exterior faucet work before leaving.
Set and verify the heat. Confirm the system is actually producing heat and that interior doors allow circulation.
Help warm air reach pipes. During severe cold, open cabinets below sinks on exterior walls. Secure household chemicals from children and pets.
Add useful monitoring. Consider low-temperature and water leak alerts. Place sensors near vulnerable plumbing, the water heater and mechanical areas.
Arrange a local check. Give a trusted person or property manager access, contacts and clear instructions if the temperature drops or an alert occurs.
Know the shutoffs. Do not shut off or drain systems blindly. A boiler, fire sprinkler or other equipment may require water and a specific professional procedure.
Why Winterizing Matters
What can happen if a Colorado home is not winterized?
Most winter problems follow a predictable chain. A small preparation step can interrupt that chain before it becomes a repair, insurance claim or unsafe condition.
Protect the property
Reducing freeze, drainage and heating risks helps preserve finishes, equipment, irrigation and landscaping.
Improve comfort
Clean airflow, reliable heating and simple air sealing can make rooms feel more consistent during Colorado temperature swings.
Leave with a better plan
Monitoring, service records and a local contact can shorten the response time when the home needs attention.
Vacant and Unoccupied Homes
What changes when the home may be vacant this winter?
- Tell the insurance professional how the property will be used and how long it may be empty. Coverage conditions and inspection requirements can differ.
- Use monitored temperature and water sensors, plus scheduled in-person checks by a trusted person or property manager.
- If utilities will be disconnected, hire qualified professionals to winterize and document plumbing, irrigation, appliances and mechanical equipment.
- Before shutting off or draining water, identify fire suppression, hydronic heating, humidification and other connected systems that may require a different procedure.
- Keep snow, mail, deliveries and exterior lighting managed so the home remains accessible and cared for.
Avoid the Dangerous Shortcuts
What should you never do during a winter emergency?
Use safer methods recommended by qualified guidance and call a plumber when the location or damage is uncertain.
Grills, patio heaters and similar products can create deadly carbon monoxide indoors.
CPSC advises using generators outside, at least 20 feet from the house, with exhaust directed away from buildings.
Keep it at least three feet from combustible items, plug it directly into a wall outlet and turn it off while sleeping.
Colorado Winterizing FAQ
Direct answers to common winter home questions
When should I winterize my sprinkler system in Colorado?
Complete the work before the first freezing weather reaches your property. Do not depend on a fixed date because elevation, exposure and annual weather vary. Aurora and Denver Water both recommend fall shutdown and proper drainage or blowout before freezing conditions.
What temperature should I leave my house at when traveling in winter?
The National Weather Service advises leaving heat at no lower than 55°F when going away. That is a general starting point, not a guarantee. Older construction, exterior wall plumbing, crawlspaces, severe wind or insurer requirements may justify a higher setting. Confirm the best plan for your home and keep monitoring in place.
Should I let faucets drip during a Colorado freeze?
A small drip can be one targeted measure for vulnerable plumbing during extreme cold, but it is not a substitute for heat, insulation or repairs. Follow local utility and qualified plumbing guidance for the specific home. Know where the water is going and do not create a drainage or septic problem.
Should I open sink cabinets during very cold weather?
Opening cabinets can help heated room air reach vulnerable pipes, especially at sinks on exterior walls. Keep household chemicals, sharp objects and other hazards away from children and pets before leaving cabinet doors open.
Do I need to cover outdoor furniture?
Follow the furniture manufacturer’s guidance. Clean and completely dry cushions before storage, secure covers so Colorado wind cannot lift them and avoid trapping moisture against materials that need ventilation.
How often should a furnace be serviced?
ENERGY STAR recommends a professional heating checkup in the fall. CPSC recommends yearly inspection of fuel-burning heating systems, including furnaces, boilers, fireplaces, chimneys and vents. Filter checks may be needed monthly, with replacement when dirty.
What should I do if a pipe freezes?
Turn off the water if a leak or rupture is suspected and call a qualified plumber. Never use an open flame. The National Weather Service recommends safer warming methods such as a hair dryer, electric heating pad or warm towels when the pipe is accessible and it is safe to do so. Continue warming until normal flow returns and inspect for leakage.
Can I turn off the water before leaving for winter travel?
Sometimes that may reduce one type of risk, but it is not a universal instruction. Fire sprinklers, boilers, humidifiers and other equipment may depend on a water supply or require a specific shutdown process. Ask qualified professionals how the systems in your property interact before turning anything off or draining it.
What is different about winterizing a vacant home?
A vacant home needs regular physical checks, temperature and leak monitoring, clear emergency contacts, documented professional winterization when appropriate and confirmation of insurance requirements. If utilities will be off, do not assume ordinary occupied-home steps are sufficient.
Official Guidance
Where can Colorado homeowners verify winter preparation advice?
- City of Aurora: Seasonal Water Checklist
- Denver Water: Cold Weather Tips
- National Weather Service: Winter Safety
- National Weather Service: Protecting Pipes During Extreme Cold
- ENERGY STAR: Heating and Cooling Maintenance
- U.S. Department of Energy: Winter Energy Tips
- U.S. CPSC: Furnaces, Generators and Space Heaters
- U.S. CPSC: Home Heating Equipment Safety
Information reviewed October 8, 2026. Weather, utility guidance, equipment requirements and insurance conditions can change. Follow current official guidance and the instructions for your home’s specific systems.
