The First Big Snowfall: What Fairfield County Owners Should Do First

You look out the window, and the driveway is gone. The first big snow is a good time to slow down and do a few things in the right order.

Start with the air. Connecticut’s health department says 17 people were hospitalized and 126 more visited emergency rooms in 2023 after carbon monoxide exposure. Snow can block the pipes that let fumes out. So before you pick up a shovel, clear the furnace exhaust, the dryer vent, and any exhaust pipe on the side of the house. Brush off your car’s tailpipe, too.

Next, check your alarms. You need one on every floor and one near the bedrooms.

Then think about your body. The same state notice warns that heavy shoveling can trigger heart emergencies. Wet snow is heavy. Push it instead of lifting it, take small scoops, and rest often. If you have heart trouble, or you just don’t shovel much, wait and ask for help.

Salt is the next thing to sort out. During last January’s storm, plow drivers in western Connecticut told News 12 they were seeing a shortage of road salt, according to its live storm coverage. Buy ice melt and sand in October, not the night before.

Wait for the plow before you clear the end of the drive. Town crews push a heavy bank of snow across the entrance, and clearing it twice is no fun. Fairfield alone has about 300 miles of town roads to plow, so it can take hours for a crew to reach your street.

Once the safety jobs are done, clear a path to the mailbox, the gas meter, and the nearest fire hydrant. Keep snow off the road, since it is against town rules in many places.

If you can’t do all this yourself, line up help now. Many owners in Fairfield County use snow removal services for long drives, steep slopes, or when they travel. Ask about pricing and response times before the first storm, not during it.

Last, look up and look down. A heavy load on a flat roof is worth a call to a pro. On the coldest nights, open the cabinet doors under sinks on outside walls so warm air can reach the pipes. Take your time with all of it.