Winter Prep

You've winterized the house — now it's the car's turn. North Idaho winters are hard on vehicles, and a fall once-over now can save you a tow-truck call in January. Here's a practical checklist for getting your car ready for the deep cold.

Start with the battery. Cold weather is brutal on batteries, and most fail with little warning. If yours is more than three or four years old, have it tested — most auto parts stores do it free. A weak battery in October becomes a dead battery in January.

North Idaho's first hard freeze can arrive with little warning, and one of the most expensive things it can catch is a sprinkler system full of water. When water trapped in irrigation lines freezes, it expands — cracking pipes, splitting backflow preventers, and turning a skipped winterization into a spring repair bill.

North Idaho winters bring deep snow and bitter cold — and for homeowners, one of the costliest cold-weather surprises: the ice dam. An ice dam forms when heat escaping through your attic melts the snow on your roof. The meltwater runs down toward the colder eaves, refreezes, and builds up a ridge of ice. Water trapped behind that ridge can back up under shingles, seep into the attic, and stain ceilings — or worse, damage insulation, walls, and framing.

North Idaho winters are no joke — freezing temperatures, heavy snow, and the occasional ice storm. A little preparation in October and November goes a long way toward keeping your home safe, warm, and efficient all winter.