Nearly 3 in 4 Americans Prep for Winter, but It Comes at an Expensive Cost

Those long summer days are a distant memory, and the winter gloom is fast approaching. While some may love cozying up indoors, most admit it’s an expensive season — and not just because of the holidays.

According to the latest ValuePenguin survey of 2,000 U.S. consumers, Americans spend an average of $1,258 prepping their cars and homes (and more) for winter.

Here’s what else we found.

Key findings

Nearly three-fourths of Americans will make winter preparations

As Americans look ahead to winter, 74% will make preparations this year for their car and/or home. Breaking that down further, 42% will prepare both their homes and cars for the cold season, while just over a quarter (26%) will only prepare their homes and 6% will only prepare their vehicles.

Of course, what winter means varies by region, and Americans prepare differently. Northeasterners and Midwesterners are the most likely to prepare, with 85% in both regions prepping their homes and/or cars. Meanwhile, Westerners are the least likely to do so, at 64%.

By generation, younger Americans are more likely to prep for the cold season than older Americans. Gen Zers ages 18 to 26 and millennials ages 27 to 42 are the most likely to do so, at 79% for both. That’s followed by:

How much do Americans spend on winter? Across all respondents, Americans spend an average of $1,258 prepping for the cold season. By age group, millennials spend the most, at an average of $2,452 — nearly twice as much as Gen Zers ($1,232). Still, though, Gen Zers spend an average of seven times more than their baby boomer counterparts ($175).

Also worth noting, men ($1,804) spend significantly more to prepare for winter than women ($777). With little ones to look out for, those with children younger than 18 ($2,872) drastically outspend those without children ($566) and those with adult children ($164).

According to ValuePenguin insurance expert Divya Sangameshwar, the nature of the season plays a role in high spending.

With that in mind, it’s understandable that two-thirds (66%) of Americans say winter is the most expensive season to prepare for. Those in the Midwest and Northeast are the most likely to say winter is the most expensive season, at 78% for both.

Power outages are a top concern — here’s what Americans are doing to prepare

Although there are several causes of concern for the winter season, power outages (46%) top the list. Following that, Americans are concerned about vehicle safety (40%) and frozen pipes (40%).

According to Sangameshwar, Americans are right to have these concerns.

What are Americans doing to prepare? Among those winterizing their cars, 79% will do general maintenance (like checking lights, batteries, fluids and oil) and 57% will ensure their heater and defroster are working properly. Following that:

Meanwhile, among those preparing their homes, 58% will check or repair their heating systems — the top response. Nearly half (47%) will winterize their outdoor faucets, 46% will keep snow-clearing equipment handy and 43% will check and repair window seals.

Sangameshwar says some of the most critical steps are being overlooked. "While most Americans are employing basic measures, they’re missing out on equally important measures," she says. "Things like removing dead branches from their trees and checking and fixing their insulation, pipes, roof and gutters are all vital for winter preparations."

When it comes to winter supplies Americans have on hand, blankets (56%), shovels (53%) and ice scrapers (53%) top the list. Alarmingly, though, 8% don’t have any winter supplies yet, with Southerners (11%) and Westerners (10%) the most likely to say so.

29% are worried they won’t be able to afford winter damage repairs

Preparing your home and car(s) isn't the only thing you should do. Americans commonly overlook their insurance, though many have cost-related concerns. Although 29% are worried they won’t be able to afford the cost of repairs from potential winter weather damage, just 9% have reviewed their insurance coverage.

While most winter storm perils are covered under your home and car insurance policies, that’s not always the case. For example, if you live in an area that receives a lot of snow, your property may be at risk of flood damage as the weather warms in spring — a peril that requires separate flood insurance.

It’s also worth noting that winter weather caused $64.1 million in property damage in the U.S. in 2022 through July, according to a ValuePenguin study on winter weather damage — which highlights the importance of updating your policy, Sangameshwar says. "While it’s impossible to anticipate and prevent all types of damage, taking steps like checking and updating your insurance can give you the peace of mind that comes with knowing you’ve done everything you can to protect yourself financially," she says.

Changing weather patterns mean some Americans may be unprepared

As climate change continues to disrupt the weather, Americans' reliance on traditional weather patterns also puts them at risk.

This winter, El Nino (a warm jet stream that travels across the Pacific Ocean) is expected to bring a warmer and drier winter to the West and Midwest and a wetter and cooler winter to the South. While 85% of Midwesterners will prepare their homes and/or cars for the brutal winters they’ve come to expect, 30% of Southerners plan to make no winter preparations despite current predictions.

This also comes as 31% of Southerners have reported damage to their cars and/or homes from winter weather — more on that below.

Only half of those who’ve experienced winter weather damage filed a claim

Americans are no strangers to winter weather damage. In fact, 32% of Americans say their car and/or home has been damaged by winter storms, with Northeasterners (37%) and Midwesterners (33%) the most likely to say so by region.

Despite this, just half (50%) of those who’ve experienced damage have filed an insurance claim, again led by Northeasterners (60%). Among those who filed a claim, 70% say their insurance fully covered their claim and 27% say their insurance partially covered it.

Although 31% of Southerners report experiencing winter weather damage, the 51% who filed a claim were slightly less likely to have it covered. Of the Southerners who filed an insurance claim for winter damage, 67% say their insurance fully covered their claim and 28% say their insurance partially covered it.

Preparing for winter: Top expert tips

Generally speaking, it’s important to know which winter perils your home and cars are at risk for — and what you can and should do to mitigate those risks. However, Sangameshwar says it’s equally important to know what your insurance will cover if the unexpected happens.

As you review your home and auto coverage, here are a few pointers to keep in mind: