Winter Comes Early in Eastern Washington — Are You Ready?
If you’ve lived in Stevens County or Spokane County for more than a season, you already know winter doesn’t wait for the calendar. Higher-elevation towns like Colville and Kettle Falls often see their first hard frost weeks before folks down in the valley around Airway Heights and Spokane. Wait until the first snowfall to winterize, and you’ll be playing catch-up on frozen pipes, drafty doors, and a furnace that hasn’t been looked at since last March.
This checklist is built for our local climate, our elevation changes, and our early frost dates — not some generic guide written for a milder zip code. Whether you’re on a quarter-acre lot in town or out on acreage near Kettle Falls, work through this room-by-room list before the temperature drops for good.
Seal Up Drafts Before the Wind Picks Up
Heat loss around doors and windows is one of the biggest — and cheapest to fix — culprits behind sky-high winter heating bills. This is a job you can knock out in an afternoon, and it’s the best place to start:
- Install or replace weatherstripping around exterior doors and windows
- Add door sweeps to block cold air sneaking under doors
- Re-caulk around window frames, especially on north-facing walls that take the brunt of Eastern Washington wind
- Seal gaps around dryer vents, cable lines, and outdoor faucets where cold air works its way in
Grab your tape measure and check your door and window dimensions before you head out — our team at any Builders Supply location can help you pick the right weatherstripping and caulk for your exact setup the same day.
Protect Your Pipes Before the First Hard Freeze
Frozen and burst pipes are one of the most common — and most expensive — cold-weather calls we hear about every year, especially in older homes around Colville and Kettle Falls where plumbing often runs through unheated crawlspaces or exterior walls. Don’t wait for a cold snap to catch you off guard:
- Wrap exposed pipes in crawlspaces, garages, and basements with foam pipe insulation
- Disconnect and drain garden hoses, then shut off exterior spigots
- Slip inexpensive foam covers over outdoor faucets
- Find your main water shutoff valve today, not the night a pipe bursts
Get Your Heating System Ready Now
Nothing ruins a Stevens County winter morning faster than a furnace that won’t kick on. Before you actually need the heat:
- Replace furnace filters now, and plan to do it monthly through the cold season
- Schedule a furnace or heat pump inspection if it hasn’t been checked in over a year
- Keep a backup space heater on hand for emergencies or outbuildings
- Clean and inspect wood stoves and chimneys if that’s your primary or backup heat source — common across our Kettle Falls and Colville service areas
Don’t Forget What’s Outside
Your home’s exterior takes the hardest hit once snow and ice move in. Add these to your weekend list:
- Clean gutters and downspouts to prevent ice dams
- Install gutter guards if you’re tired of climbing the ladder every fall
- Trim branches that could snap under snow or ice load near rooflines and power lines
- Check roof flashing and shingles for damage before the first heavy snow arrives
Stock Up Before the Shelves Empty Out
Once the first real snowstorm hits, hardware shelves across the Spokane region empty fast. Beat the rush and pick these up now:
- Ice melt and sand for driveways and walkways
- Snow shovels and roof rakes
- Snow blowers — especially useful out in Kettle Falls or rural Colville, where plowing can take longer
- Extra batteries, flashlights, and emergency supplies in case of power outages
Elevation Matters More Than You Think
One thing generic winterization guides always miss: elevation and microclimate differences within our own service area. Homes at higher elevations near Kettle Falls and across parts of Stevens County can see frost and snow accumulation weeks ahead of lower-elevation Spokane County neighborhoods. If you manage rental properties or split time between homes across the region, build your winterizing schedule around your coldest, highest property first, then work your way down.
Make It a One-Trip Project
You don’t need five different stops to handle this checklist. From weatherstripping and pipe insulation to furnace filters, ice melt, and snow blowers, Builders Supply & Home Center carries everything on this list — and our crew actually knows Eastern Washington winters because we’ve lived through them since 1979.
Stop by our Airway Heights, Colville, or Kettle Falls location this week and let our team help you knock out your winterizing checklist in one trip. Can’t make it in? Shop online anytime at bldrsupply.epicor-inet.com and pick up in-store or have your order ready for will-call. Don’t wait for that first hard freeze to catch you off guard — get winterized now while shelves are fully stocked.