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Winter Power Outages: How to Prepare Your Home and Protect Your Systems

by | Jan 18, 2026 | Home Maintenance, Local Homeoner Tips, Seasonal Home Tips, Seasonal Maintenance, Utah Homeowners, Utah Lifestyle

✅ 1. Winter Power Outages: How to Prepare Your Home and Protect Your Systems

Why it works:

  • December storms in Utah often cause outages.
  • Lets you teach homeowners practical steps + what systems a warranty can help offset costs for.
  • Fits your tone of being a helpful, trusted local resource.

Possible angles:

  • Backup heat considerations
  • Protecting refrigerators and freezers
  • Preventing frozen pipes during outages
  • What to unplug or reset when power returns
  • How a home warranty helps if HVAC fails after an outage

✅ 2. Hosting for the Holidays? Prevent Plumbing Disasters Before Guests Arrive

Why it works:

  • December = high plumbing usage (kitchens + bathrooms).
  • Light, fun, helpful content for homeowners, agents, and title pros.
  • Ties naturally into warranty coverage for plumbing, mainline stoppages, disposals, water heaters, and more.

Possible angles:

  • Avoiding clogged kitchen drains
  • Preventing garbage disposal overuse
  • Checking guest bathrooms before visitors arrive
  • Hot water management tips
  • When a home warranty can offset plumbing repair costs

If you want, I can write full blog posts for one or both topics right now — just tell me which title you want to use.

You said:

PLease write an article for option 1 using the same criteria that we ahve used for the other posts.

ChatGPT said:

Here is the full, SEO-optimized, Utah-focused blog post for Option 1: “Winter Power Outages: How to Prepare Your Home and Protect Your Systems.”
Tone, structure, keywords, and categories match all your existing SilverBack Home Warranty blog standards.

Winter Power Outages: How to Prepare Your Home and Protect Your Systems

Utah winters are beautiful… until the power goes out.
Whether it’s a heavy snowstorm in Utah County, icy winds sweeping through the Wasatch Front, or a surprise wind event that knocks down lines, winter outages are a real possibility every year.

A power outage doesn’t just leave you sitting in the dark — it can affect your heating, appliances, plumbing, and even the safety of your home. The good news? A little preparation goes a long way toward keeping your home safe, warm, and protected.

Here’s how Utah homeowners can get outage-ready before winter storms hit.

❄️ Understand How Winter Outages Impact Your Home

Power outages in cold weather can trigger a chain reaction of issues:

  • Frozen pipes when heat is lost for too long
  • Food spoilage in fridges and freezers
  • Furnace failures when systems attempt to restart
  • HVAC strain when power surges occur
  • Electrical damage to appliances from brownouts

Preparing now can prevent major headaches later.

🔋 1. Gather the Essentials Before the Storm Hits

Every Utah home should have a basic winter outage kit, including:

  • Flashlights and fresh batteries
  • Warm blankets and layers
  • Bottled water
  • Shelf-stable food
  • A battery-powered radio
  • Backup chargers or power banks

Keep these items in a central place so you’re not scrambling in the dark.

##🔥 2. Keep Your Furnace and HVAC System Protected

Your furnace is the first major system impacted by a power outage. When the power returns, furnaces sometimes struggle to restart — especially older units.

Before winter storms:

  • Replace the furnace filter
  • Make sure the power switch is on
  • Clear snow away from outdoor exhaust vents
  • Keep your thermostat at 60–65°F during freezing stretches

After the power returns:

  • Give the furnace a few minutes to cycle
  • If it fails to start, check breakers, the thermostat, and the filter
  • Listen for unusual sounds — surges can stress components

If you experience continued no-heat after an outage, a SilverBack warranty can help offset the cost of covered HVAC repairs.

🧊 3. Prevent Frozen Pipes During the Outage

When the heat is off, interior temps drop quickly — especially in basements, crawlspaces, and exterior walls.

To prevent frozen or burst pipes:

  • Open cabinet doors under sinks to let warm air circulate
  • Let faucets drip lightly to keep water moving
  • Keep interior doors open for better airflow
  • Wrap vulnerable pipes in insulation or heat tape before winter begins

If you leave home during an outage risk period, keep your heat set no lower than 55°F.

🧯 4. Protect Your Electrical Appliances

When the power flickers or returns suddenly, appliances can be damaged by surges or brownouts.

Reduce risk by:

  • Unplugging sensitive electronics (TVs, computers, gaming systems)
  • Installing surge protectors on major appliances
  • Avoiding running multiple high-demand systems immediately after power returns

If your system experiences damage due to an outage-related surge, your home warranty may help offset costs depending on the item and coverage.

🧊 5. Keep Refrigerators and Freezers Closed

During an outage:

  • A closed fridge keeps food cold for ~4 hours
  • A full freezer stays frozen up to 48 hours
  • A half-full freezer stays frozen ~24 hours

Pack items tightly to retain cold air and avoid opening doors unless absolutely necessary.

🏠 6. Know Your Home’s Electrical Panel

Many outages impact only part of the home.
Check your breaker panel to confirm:

  • A single circuit didn’t trip
  • Your main breaker is still on
  • No signs of scorch marks or burning odor

Only flip breakers if it’s safe to do so — and never force one that won’t reset.

🔌 7. Consider Backup Heat Options

If winter outages are common in your area, consider:

  • A portable space heater (for when power returns)
  • A propane heater rated for indoor use only
  • A generator installed professionally (never run one in a garage or near windows)

Backup heat can prevent frozen pipes and keep your family comfortable until the furnace restarts.

🦍 How a Home Warranty Helps During Winter Outages

Even when you’re prepared, power outages can strain home systems — especially furnaces, heat pumps, and refrigerators.

A SilverBack Home Warranty can help offset costs of covered repairs when systems fail after power is restored, including:

  • Furnace ignition issues
  • Blower motor failures
  • Heat pump malfunctions
  • Refrigerator or freezer failures
  • Electrical system issues

Winter in Utah can be unpredictable, but with the right protection, you don’t have to face it alone.

Stay Ready, Stay Warm, and Stay Protected

Winter storms are part of Utah life, but power outages don’t have to lead to disaster.
Preparing ahead of time — and having a home warranty in your corner — keeps your home safe, your systems protected, and your stress levels low all season long.

Because when the lights go out, SilverBack’s still got your back.

📞 Helpful Links

  • Call 833-750-6400 with questions or plan details
  • Visit SilverBackHW.com for more information
  • Place an order anytime at SilverBackHW.com/orders