Winter Home Maintenance Checklist for Harford County Homeowners

Last updated: Oct. 24, 2026

Get your home ready for winter now: protect your pipes, service your heat, test your alarms and know the county snow rules. Most of this takes one weekend and saves you a big repair bill later.

Here's my checklist for Harford County homes.

[VIDEO PLACEHOLDER: Josh adds a winter home tips video here, or delete this line.]

1. Protect your pipes

Frozen pipes can burst. That's water damage you don't want.

• Unhook and drain outdoor hoses.
• Wrap exposed pipes in a garage, crawl space or basement.
• On very cold nights, open cabinet doors under sinks on outside walls.
• Let a faucet drip when it's bitter cold.
• Keep your thermostat at the same temperature day and night.
• Going away? Don't set the heat below 55°F.

If a pipe freezes, never use an open flame to thaw it. Use a hair dryer or warm towels, or call a plumber.

2. Service your heat

Get your furnace or heat pump checked before the first cold snap. Change the filter. Then keep changing it.

Want to save on heat? The U.S. Department of Energy says you can save up to 10% a year by turning your thermostat down 7 to 10 degrees for 8 hours a day. Have a heat pump? DOE says only do this with a thermostat made for heat pumps.

3. Keep your gas meter and vents clear

If you have natural gas, this one matters.

• Brush snow off the meter with a broom. No shovels. Don't kick it.
• If it's covered in ice, call your gas company.
• Don't pile snow on or near the meter.
• Knock down icicles hanging over it, carefully.
• Keep outdoor vents for your furnace, water heater and dryer clear of snow.

Smell gas? Leave the house first. Then call 911 or BGE at 877-778-7798 from outside.

4. Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms

Push the test button. Check the date on the back.

In Maryland, smoke alarms must be replaced 10 years after they were made. Battery-only alarms must be the sealed 10-year kind.

5. Use heaters and generators the safe way

• Keep space heaters at least 3 feet from anything that can burn.
• Never heat your home with a gas stove or oven.
• Run a generator outside only, more than 20 feet from windows, doors and vents. Never in the garage.

6. Clean gutters and rake leaves

Clogged gutters can lead to ice dams and water in your basement. Clean them after the leaves drop.

For leaf pickup and drop-off rules, see my Harford County leaf and yard waste guide.

7. Get ready for snow

Stock up before the first storm:

• Snow shovel and ice melt
• Flashlights and batteries
• Phone chargers or a power bank
• A few days of water and easy food

How does Harford County plow snow?

The county plows in this order:

1. Emergency roads
2. Main roads
3. Secondary roads and cul-de-sacs

So if you live on a cul-de-sac, you're last. Plan for it.

The county says that after up to 6 inches of snow, it takes about 8 to 16 hours after the snow stops to plow or treat every county road once. After 12 to 18 inches, it's about 35 to 40 hours.

The county does not plow state roads like I-95 or Route 543. It also does not plow town streets in Bel Air, Aberdeen or Havre de Grace. Those towns handle their own.

Where should I park when it snows?

Use your driveway if you have one. It helps the plows.

No driveway? The county says park on the even-numbered side of the road in even years and the odd-numbered side in odd years. Then move to the other side once it's plowed. By the county's count, 2026-2027 is an odd year.

Shovel snow to the right, into your yard, not into the road. That way the plow is less likely to bury your driveway again.

Check the county's online Snow Plow Tracker during big storms.

Who do I call if the power goes out?

• BGE: 877-778-2222
• Delmarva Power: 800-898-8042

FAQ

How do I keep my pipes from freezing in winter?

Drain outdoor hoses, insulate exposed pipes, open sink cabinets on outside walls and let a faucet drip on very cold nights. Keep the heat at the same temperature day and night, and no lower than 55°F if you are away.

How long does Harford County take to plow after a snowstorm?

Harford County says it takes about 8 to 16 hours after up to 6 inches of snow stops to plow or treat every county road once. After 12 to 18 inches, it takes about 35 to 40 hours.

Which side of the street should I park on when it snows in Harford County?

Use your driveway if you can. If not, Harford County says park on the even-numbered side in even years and the odd-numbered side in odd years. The 2026-2027 season is an odd year.

How do I clear snow from my gas meter?

Gently brush the snow off with a broom. Do not use a shovel or kick the meter. If it is covered in ice, call your gas company.

How far should a generator be from my house?

CDC says to run portable generators outside, more than 20 feet from windows, doors and vents. Never run one inside your home or garage.

About the author: Josh Tessier is a Harford County REALTOR® with the Lee Tessier Team at eXp Realty, based in Bel Air. He has 16+ years in real estate and has sold 600+ homes personally (5,900+ for the Lee Tessier Team). He lives in Harford County and is raising his family here.

Watch more on my YouTube channel: Josh Talks Harford. Follow along on Facebook and Instagram.

Sources

All checked Oct. 24, 2026.

Pipes - American Red Cross, Preventing and Thawing Frozen Pipes: https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/winter-storm/frozen-pipes.html - State of Michigan, MI Ready, Preventing Frozen Pipes: https://www.michigan.gov/miready/be-informed/winter-prep/preventing-frozen-pipes

Heating and thermostat savings - U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Saver Guide (PDF; up to 10% a year by turning the thermostat down 7 to 10°F for 8 hours a day; heat pump caution): https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2022-08/energy-saver-guide-2022.pdf - U.S. Department of Energy, Programmable Thermostats (archived copy, June 2026; DOE's live page now returns 404): https://web.archive.org/web/20260628214732/https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/programmable-thermostats

Gas meters and vents - American Gas Association, Top Tips for Winter Weather: https://www.aga.org/natural-gas/safety/top-tips-for-winter-weather/ - BGE, Winter Safety Tips: Utility Equipment and Ventilation in Snowy, Icy Conditions (PDF): https://azure-na-assets.contentstack.com/v3/assets/blt71bfe6e8a1c2d265/blt67f6ecb8c30fbc4c/WinterSafetyTipsUtilityEquipmentAndVentilationInSnowyIcyConditions.pdf - BGE, Gas Leak Repairs (gas odor line 877-778-7798): https://www.bge.com/safety-community/safety/gas-leak-repairs

Alarms, heaters and generators - Maryland Office of the State Fire Marshal, Get Alarmed Maryland: https://firemarshal.maryland.gov/education-and-outreach/get-alarmed-maryland - Baltimore County Government, About Maryland's Smoke Alarm Law: https://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/departments/fire/fire-marshal/smoke-alarm-law - CDC, Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Basics: https://www.cdc.gov/carbon-monoxide/about/index.html - CDC, When the Power Goes Out, Keep Your Generator Outside (PDF): https://www.cdc.gov/carbon-monoxide/media/pdfs/Generators_1.pdf - CDC, Safety Guidelines During and After a Winter Storm: https://www.cdc.gov/winter-weather/safety/stay-safe-during-after-a-winter-storm-safety.html - U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Keep Warm and Safe This Winter (2026): https://www.cpsc.gov/Newsroom/News-Releases/2026/Keep-Warm-and-Safe-This-Winter-Tips-for-Using-Generators-Furnaces-and-Space-Heaters

Harford County snow and outages - Harford County, Snow Events (plow order, times, parking, outage numbers): https://harfordcountymd.gov/1165/Snow-Events - Harford County, Snow Plowing Brochure (PDF): https://www.harfordcountymd.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1196/Snow-Plowing-Brochure-PDF - Harford County, Snow Plow Tracker: https://harfordcountymd.gov/1821/Snow-Plow-Tracker

Author - Josh Tessier, About page: https://joshtalksharford.com/about