Winter-Proof Your Home: Tips to Prevent Freezing Issues

Winter in New Jersey is no joke. With temperatures regularly dipping below freezing and back-to-back storms rolling in, your home can take a beating if you're not prepared. The good news? A little prevention goes a long way. Here are our top tips to keep your Ecco home safe, warm, and free from costly freeze-related issues this season.

1. Keep the Heat On — Even When You're Not Home

It might be tempting to turn the thermostat way down when you head out for the day, but resist the urge. Pipes freeze when the air around them drops below 32°F (0°C), and that can happen inside walls and cabinets faster than you'd think.

What to do: Keep your thermostat set to at least 55°F (13°C) at all times — even overnight or when you're away for the weekend. It costs less to maintain a baseline temperature than to deal with a burst pipe.

2. Open Cabinet Doors Under Sinks

Pipes under kitchen and bathroom sinks are often along exterior walls, making them especially vulnerable to the cold. When temperatures are forecast to drop sharply, let warm air circulate around them.

What to do: Open the cabinet doors under your sinks during very cold nights. This simple trick allows the warmer air from your living space to reach the pipes.

3. Let the Faucet Drip

A small, steady drip from your faucet can prevent pressure from building up in your pipes — which is what actually causes them to burst when they freeze.

What to do: During extreme cold snaps (below 20°F / -6°C), let both hot and cold water trickle from faucets connected to pipes along exterior walls. Even a slow drip is enough.

4. Check and Seal Drafts

Cold air sneaking in through gaps around windows, doors, and baseboards can drop the temperature inside walls quickly.

What to do: Walk around your room and common areas. Feel for cold drafts near windows, exterior doors, and electrical outlets on outside walls. Use a rolled-up towel at the base of doors, or report gaps to the Eccovisor team — we can arrange weatherstripping or caulking.

5. Know Where the Water Shutoff Is

If a pipe does freeze or burst, acting fast is critical.

What to do: Locate the main water shutoff valve in your Ecco home before an emergency happens. If you're not sure where it is, reach out to your Eccovisor — we'll show you. In case of a burst pipe, turn off the water immediately and contact us right away.

6. Keep Shared Spaces Warm

In coliving homes, common areas like kitchens, hallways, and bathrooms are used by everyone — and they're also the spots most likely to have pipes running through them.

What to do: Make sure doors to common areas aren't left open to the outside for extended periods. If a shared space feels unusually cold, let your housemates know and contact the Eccovisor team.

7. Report Issues Right Away

Don't wait and hope it gets better. A small issue — a slow drain, a cold spot on a wall, a faucet that seems frozen — can become a big problem fast in winter.

What to do: Submit a maintenance request through our website at eccoxist.com/maintenance. We're here to help.

A Quick Winter Checklist for Your Room

•  Thermostat set to at least 55°F when away

•  Cabinet doors open under sinks during cold snaps

•  Faucets dripping during extreme cold

•  Drafts around windows and doors checked

•  Water shutoff valve location known

•  Maintenance requests submitted for any concerns
  

Stay warm, look out for your housemates, and don't hesitate to reach out to the Eccovisor team with any questions. We're all in this together. 🌿