Preparing for Winter Storms: A Guide for Rural Homeowners

General Rural Freeze Prep (The Basics Still Matter)

Before we get into solar-specific steps, don’t skip the fundamentals:

• Protect water systems: Insulate exposed pipes, well heads, pressure tanks, and outdoor spigots. Know where your main shutoff is.

• Stock essentials: Gather drinking water, shelf-stable food, pet supplies, medications, flashlights, and phone battery packs.

• Fuel & equipment: Top off propane tanks, and fuel vehicles and equipment.

• Livestock prep: Ensure access to unfrozen water, wind breaks, and power for critical systems.

• Have a backup heat source: A small propane heater (like a Mr. Buddy) can be invaluable during extended outages—just be sure to use it safely with proper ventilation.

  
  

Preparedness is layered—solar is part of the plan, not the entire plan.

Heat Pumps, Electric Heat Strips & Why This Matters in a Power Outage

Many rural Texas homes use electric heat pumps, which work efficiently most of the year—but during freezing temperatures, they often rely on electric auxiliary heat strips.

These heat strips are:

• Extremely energy-intensive

• One of the largest power draws in a home

• Capable of draining a battery system very quickly

  
  

What You Should Do Before the Storm:

• Check your thermostat settings: If possible, disable or limit auxiliary/emergency heat. Many smart thermostats allow you to turn heat strips off.

• Or flip the breaker to the heat strips: This prevents them from automatically engaging during an outage.

• Dress warmer indoors and rely on layered heating strategies instead of full electric resistance heat.

  
  

If you’re running on batteries, heat strips can mean the difference between hours of backup vs. minutes.

Turn Off Electric Water Heaters

Electric water heaters are another major hidden power hog during outages.

Before freezing weather or a predicted grid event:

• Turn off electric water heaters at the breaker.

• Water heaters can pull 4,000–5,500 watts when heating.

• During an outage, this load provides little benefit and can rapidly drain batteries.

  
  

Tip: Heat water before the storm, then shut the breaker off. You’ll still have hot water available without the ongoing energy draw.

Use Small Electric Room Heaters (Not Whole-Home Heat)

When running on backup power, smaller electric space heaters are far more practical than central heating systems.

Why they’re better:

• Much lower wattage (often 750–1,500 watts)

• Allow you to heat only occupied rooms

• Far easier to manage on battery backup

• Can be rotated between rooms as needed

  
  

Every household—battery or not—should have at least one or two small electric room heaters on hand.

👉 Example: Comfort Glow Infrared Quartz Comfort Furnace

Pool Owners: Keep the Pump Running

If you have a pool:

• Keep the pool pump running continuously during freezing temperatures.

• Moving water is far less likely to freeze and cause cracked pipes or damaged equipment.

• If power is limited, prioritize pump runtime during the coldest hours.

  
  

If your pool pump is on a backed-up circuit, factor it into your energy plan.

If You Have Solar Only (No Battery Backup)

If your system is grid-tied without batteries, it’s important to understand this clearly:

Your solar system will shut down during a grid outage.

Even if the sun is shining, your system cannot power your home unless it includes battery backup or off-grid capability.

What you can do:

• Ensure your system is operating normally before the storm.

• Understand that solar helps reduce energy use before and after outages.

• Plan alternative power for wells, heat, & refrigeration.

  
  

If You Have Solar + Battery Backup

This is where preparation really pays off—but settings matter.

1. Check Your Battery Settings

Before the storm:

• Enable Backup or Storm Mode.

• Increase your backup reserve (often 80–100%).

• Avoid high-draw appliances (electric dryers, ovens, water heaters, heat strips).

  
  

Before the storm arrives, we recommend simulating an outage by turning off your grid disconnect to confirm your batteries or generator are functioning properly.

2. Know Your Critical Loads

Most battery systems are designed to power essential circuits, not entire homes. Know whether your system supports:

• Well pumps

• Refrigerators & freezers

• Lighting

• Internet / Wi-Fi / cell boosters

• Medical or livestock-related equipment

  
  

3. Cold Weather & Batteries

Modern lithium batteries are built for Texas conditions, but:

• Cold temperatures can temporarily reduce performance.

• Proper installations include thermal protection.

• Keep battery enclosures clear and unobstructed.

  
  

Test Your Backup Power Before the Storm Hits

If you have solar with batteries or a generator, one of the smartest things you can do before freezing weather arrives is to test your system under real outage conditions.

What to Do:

• Throw your grid disconnect to the OFF position before the storm.

• This safely simulates a power outage.

• Confirm that:

- Batteries take over as expected.

- Critical loads stay powered.

- Generators start and transfer properly (if applicable).

- No error messages or alarms appear.

Doing this ahead of time gives you the chance to fix issues before temperatures drop and crews are hard to reach.

Why This Matters:

• Storms have a way of revealing problems at the worst possible moment.

• A loose communication cable, misconfigured battery setting, or failed transfer switch is far easier to address before an outage.

• It also gives homeowners confidence in what will and won’t run on backup power.

  
  

Tip: After testing, return the grid disconnect to normal operation and make sure your battery reserve and backup settings are exactly where you want them going into the storm. This single step can prevent a lot of stress when conditions are cold and power restoration may take time.

Why Solar + Battery Is a Game-Changer for Rural Winter Storms

For rural homeowners, outages aren’t just inconvenient—they can shut down:

• Water wells

• Heating circulation

• Communication and internet

• Livestock operations

  
  

A properly designed solar + battery system can:

• Keep wells pumping

• Support propane or gas heating systems

• Preserve food

• Maintain communication

• Reduce or eliminate generator dependence

  
  

Unlike generators alone, solar allows your batteries to recharge during daylight hours, extending backup capability across multiple days.

Keep a Propane Heater on Hand

A small propane heater is one of the most reliable backup heat options for rural homes.

Many homeowners keep a Mr. Heater Buddy propane heater because it:

• Requires no electricity

• Is portable and easy to store

• Works well for single-room heating during outages

  
  

👉 Example: Mr. Heater Big Buddy Portable Heater

Always follow manufacturer safety guidelines and ventilation requirements.

After the Storm: Smart Checkups

Once temperatures rise:

• Inspect visible electrical equipment.

• Check system monitoring apps for alerts.

• Restore normal battery and breaker settings.

• Contact your installer if anything seems off.

  
  

Thinking Ahead for Next Time

If this storm has you thinking about how long you could comfortably operate without grid power, you’re not alone. Small changes—battery capacity, load management, heater choices—can make a big difference.

At Greater Texas Solar, we design systems for real rural conditions: freezing temperatures, long outages, private wells, and wide-open properties. From planning to long-term support, we help you stay powered when it matters most.

Remember, being prepared is the key to staying safe and comfortable during winter storms.