Winter in Colorado can be dazzling, with glittering snowscapes and cozy evenings spent by the fireplace. But while all that snow and ice might make things beautiful, it can also make things dangerous — especially when they contribute to power outages.

A sudden outage during the winter can have a devastating impact on your indoor comfort and safety, which is why homeowners must prepare ahead of time.

To ensure your home is protected against an outage, follow these helpful tips from the experts at R Buck Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical.

How To Prepare for a Power Outage in Winter

Some homeowners may feel as though they’re at the whim of the electrical grid when it comes to power outages; however, there are several steps you can take to prevent these unexpected blackouts from causing unnecessary harm:

Prepare an Emergency Kit

The first thing you should do before winter settles into the Rockies is prepare an emergency kit. Having emergency supplies when the power goes out can help you get by until it’s restored or reach safety if blackouts persist for an extended period of time.

Be sure to include:

• Non-perishable food
• Water
• Flashlights
• Batteries
• First-aid kit
• Blankets
• Portable phone charger

These items can help sustain you as you wait for power to be returned to your property, keeping you safe in the event that you’re unable to leave your home.

Install a Backup Generator

Don’t let an unexpected blackout rob you of comfort, safety, and convenience. Consider adding a whole-home backup generator to your property. A backup generator will automatically kick on when it detects that your home has lost power to keep your home’s essential systems running smoothly.

Generators can be used to power everything from your TV and computer to your kitchen appliances, HVAC equipment, and more.

Have a Backup Heater

Speaking of backups, having an alternative heating source is another top consideration for homeowners to keep in mind. In cold climates like Colorado, keeping warm is critical when winter power outages threaten your indoor comfort.

Adding an alternative heating source, such as a woodstove or propane heater, can help ensure you have adequate heat if the power goes out.

While most power outages are over within a few hours, some may last longer (up to days or even weeks), making it critical for homeowners to prepare for extended periods without heat.

In addition to ensuring you have a backup heater, you need enough fuel to support the heating system. For wood-powered systems, be sure to have enough firewood to support your heating needs for at least a week. Propane- and kerosene-dependent units should have an adequate fuel supply to power these devices safely.

Winterize Your Colorado Home

Before winter hits, it’s important to make sure your home is prepared for the season. Whole-home winterization is an essential step and typically involves:

• Scheduling an annual heating system tune-up
• Cleaning gutters to prevent ice dams
• Trimming tree branches that could disturb or damage power lines
• Insulating exposed pipes to prevent bursting and freezing

Schedule a Pre-Season Inspection

Homeowners should aim to schedule professional heating maintenance at least once a year before winter — preferably in early autumn. If you have a generator installed, it’s a good idea to have this system serviced before winter as well to ensure it’s ready to handle any power outages.

Also consider having your electrical and plumbing systems professionally inspected. Catching issues with your electrical or plumbing fixtures early can help you avoid problems during a harsh winter storm.

Trust R Buck With Your Power Outage Preparation

Need help preparing for a potential outage in the Pueblo, CO, area? R Buck Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical is here to help.

Whether you need a backup generator installed, an electrical inspection, a heating tune-up, or plumbing maintenance, our team can deliver the comprehensive services you need to keep unexpected outages from disrupting your comfort and safety.

Schedule your home services in Pueblo or the surrounding areas today by calling R Buck at 719-544-6670.