Look, we all know Buffalo winters aren’t for the faint of heart. But there is a difference between “getting through it” and actually being comfortable. Whether you’re renting one of our spots or you’ve owned your home for decades, these are the quick wins I tell everyone to do before the lake effect machine really kicks in.
1. The Penny Trick (For your food)
If the power goes out while you’re at work or away for the weekend, how do you know if the stuff in your freezer stayed safe?
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Do this: Freeze a cup of water, put a penny on top, and leave it in the freezer. If you come back and the penny is at the bottom, your freezer thawed out. Toss the food.
2. Don’t Let the Pipes Burst
When it gets “stupid cold” out, your pipes are at risk.
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Do this: Open the cabinet doors under your kitchen and bathroom sinks. It feels weird, but it lets the house heat reach the plumbing. If it’s hitting sub-zero, leave a tiny drip running in the sink furthest from your water main.
3. Flip Your Fans
Ceiling fans aren’t just for summer.
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Do this: There’s a tiny switch on the motor. Flip it so the blades spin clockwise. Heat rises, and this simple move pushes that warm air back down to the floor where you actually need it.
4. Be a Good Neighbor (The Hydrant Rule)
In the “City of Good Neighbors,” we help the fire department out. If there’s a hydrant near your house, try to dig it out. If there’s an emergency, they shouldn’t have to play “find the hydrant” under four feet of snow.
5. Kill the Drafts
A drafty door is basically like throwing $20$ bills out the window every month.
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Do this: Use a “door snake” or just a heavy rolled-up towel at the bottom of exterior doors. For windows, those plastic shrink-wrap kits you get at the hardware store are a lifesaver.
6. Traction is Key
Rock salt is great for melting, but it’s brutal on dog paws.
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Pro Tip: Keep a bag of cheap kitty litter or sand in your trunk. It won’t melt the ice, but it’ll give you instant grip if you get stuck in the driveway or a parking lot.
7. Don’t “Yo-Yo” Your Heat
It’s tempting to kill the heat when you leave for the day to save money, but your furnace will have to work ten times harder to warm the place back up.
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The Rule: Keep it at a steady $18^{\circ}C$ ($65^{\circ}F$). It keeps the walls warm and prevents moisture from building up inside.