Getting Your North Lake Tahoe Home Ready for Winter: 10 Things That Matter

The first snowfall is a lot more enjoyable when you know the house is ready.

With NOAA forecasting a very strong El Niño for winter 2026–27, there’s extra attention on what this season could bring. That doesn’t guarantee record snow in North Lake Tahoe. It is a good reason to get your winter preparations underway.

Around the lake, protecting a home means thinking beyond the driveway. Frozen pipes, heating failures, roof leaks, and buried exhaust vents can turn a winter weekend into an expensive repair.

Whether you live here full time or come up for weekends, these are 10 jobs worth handling before winter settles in.

1. Protect Your Pipes and Find Your Water Shutoff

A plumbing problem is difficult enough when you’re home. It becomes a different situation when water runs unnoticed until your next visit.

• Locate and label your home’s water shutoff. Make sure everyone responsible for the property knows how to use it.
• Insulate vulnerable pipes in garages, crawl spaces, and other unheated areas.
• Have a plumber establish a shutoff and draining procedure for extended absences.

Turning off the water does not empty the plumbing. And if your home has fire sprinklers, confirm how to isolate domestic water without disabling fire protection.

2. Service the Heating System Before the First Cold Stretch

A house that feels comfortable in October has not necessarily proved it is ready for January.

• Schedule service for your furnace, boiler, or other heating system.
• Replace filters where applicable and test thermostats.
• Confirm that heat reaches areas with vulnerable plumbing.

Do not assume one thermostat setting protects every pipe. North Tahoe PUD recommends maintaining at least 55°F, but colder spaces can remain vulnerable. A heating failure or power outage can also remove that protection entirely.

3. Check the Roof and Clear the Gutters

Last winter’s small leak deserves attention before this winter’s snow covers the source.

• Have damaged roofing and suspect flashing inspected, especially around chimneys and skylights.
• Remove pine needles and debris from gutters and downspouts where installed.
• Make sure runoff drains away from the foundation.

The goal is to give rain and snowmelt a clear path off the roof and away from the house.

4. Take Recurring Ice Dams Seriously

Large ice buildups along the eaves deserve more than a photograph. They can trap melting water and allow it to back up beneath roofing.

• Tell your contractor where ice or leaks developed in previous winters.
• Have attic air leaks, insulation, and roof ventilation evaluated.
• Address the cause before snow makes access difficult.

Clean gutters alone will not solve an ice-dam problem. Heat escaping from the home can warm the roof, melting snow that refreezes at colder edges.

5. Make a Snow-Removal Plan for the Whole Property

Getting the car out is only part of the job.

• Confirm driveway service and who handles walkways, stairs, and exits.
• Identify areas where roof snow sheds onto paths or equipment.
• Arrange access to a qualified roof snow-removal professional before you need one.

There is no universal number of feet of snow that tells you when every Tahoe roof needs clearing. Roof design, snow density, drifting, and uneven accumulation all matter. Get guidance specific to your home.

6. Keep Gas Equipment and Exhaust Vents Accessible

This is one of the most consequential winter tasks, and one of the easiest to overlook.

• Locate gas meters, propane equipment, and appliance exhaust vents before snow hides them.
• Make sure your snow-removal provider knows where they are.
• Check them after storms and keep them clear of snow and ice.

Snow loads can damage gas piping. Blocked exhaust vents can allow carbon monoxide to accumulate indoors. This needs attention throughout winter, not just during fall preparation.

7. Get the Fireplace and Safety Alarms Ready

Before the first evening around the fire, make sure the system is ready to use.

• Have chimneys and flues inspected annually and cleaned as needed.
• Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms now, then monthly.
• Use a metal ash container with a tight-fitting lid, placed outside on a noncombustible surface away from structures.

Never put fireplace ashes in a bear bin, trash can, or dumpster. Embers can remain hot long after the ashes appear cold.

8. Winterize Outdoor Water Systems

Outdoor plumbing is easy to forget once summer watering ends.

• Disconnect and drain garden hoses.
• Protect exposed outdoor faucets.
• Have irrigation lines and components winterized using the method appropriate for your system.

Switching off the irrigation controller stops watering. It does not remove the water left in the lines.

9. Plan for Losing Power and Heat

Before an outage, know which parts of your heating system depend on electricity and what you will do if the house begins cooling.

• Keep flashlights, charged power banks, medications, and several days of food and water available.
• If you have backup power, have the equipment serviced and confirm what it actually powers.
• Establish a plan for protecting plumbing if heat cannot be maintained.

If you use a portable generator, follow the manufacturer’s placement instructions and local fire district safety guidance to prevent carbon monoxide from entering the home. Never operate one indoors or in a garage.

10. Have Someone Who Can Check the House

For a second home, this belongs near the top of the list.

• Install low-temperature and water-leak alerts.
• Designate a local person who can access the property and respond.
• Leave clear shutoff instructions and contractor contacts.
• Arrange physical checks after significant storms.

A notification is useful only if someone can act on it. Monitoring helps, but it cannot clear a buried vent or assess a new roof leak.

Thinking about buying a place here? Will You Use a Tahoe Second Home Enough? explores how owning a home can change the way you spend time in Tahoe.

Make Winter Preparation Part of Owning Here

A little attention before winter makes it easier to arrive, settle in, and enjoy being here.

Start with the systems that protect the house: plumbing, heat, roofing, and safe access. Then make sure someone knows what to do when conditions change.

Have questions about owning a home in North Lake Tahoe? Connect with Brad and Lauren at Tahoe Pacific | The Barth Team. We’re happy to talk through the practical side of life here, whether you’re considering a purchase or already have a place at the lake.

Getting your car ready, too? Read Driving a Tesla in Tahoe: The Winter Guide No One Gave You for practical advice on snow, traction, and winter charging.