Before the first snow in Fairfield: the plow, the sidewalk and the generator
The first real snow in Fairfield never arrives on a convenient day. It shows up on a weeknight, the forecast changes twice, and by morning the driveway is the only thing standing between you and the train.
None of the prep is hard. It just has to happen before the storm, not during it. Here's what to sort out this month.
1. Line up the plow now
If you pay someone to plow, call them this week. Confirm they have you on their route, ask what snow depth triggers a visit, and find out whether they'll come back after the town plow goes by.
That second visit matters more than people think. Town plows push snow to the right side of the truck, which means it often ends up across the bottom of your driveway. The Town of Fairfield is clear that clearing that pile is the homeowner's job, not the town's.
Two more things worth telling your plow driver:
- Fairfield doesn't allow plow contractors to push snow from your driveway onto town streets.
- Mark the edges of the driveway and any low walls or garden beds with stakes before the ground freezes. A plow can't avoid what it can't see.
2. Know your part of the sidewalk
If your house has a sidewalk in front of it, it's yours to clear. The town's 311 guidance says Fairfield property owners must clear snow and ice from the sidewalk along their property within 24 hours after a storm.
That's easy when you're home. It's harder when you're on a work trip or away for the holidays. Decide now who does it when you can't.
3. Know how the town plows
Fairfield clears the main roads first, then side streets, then dead ends. In a long storm, the main roads may need several passes before a quiet street gets its turn. If you live on a cul-de-sac, plan on waiting.
A few other things from the town's snow removal policy:
- During storms, park in the driveway, not on the street. It lets the plows clear the full width of the road.
- The town only fixes or replaces a mailbox that a plow blade actually hits. One knocked over by the weight of the snow is on you. If your mailbox post is wobbly now, it won't survive January.
- Re-plow requests and other snow complaints go through a town service request or the Town Garage.
4. Plan for the power going out
Winter storms and nor'easters bring down branches, and branches bring down wires. Think through what happens if the power's out for a day or two.
If you have a portable generator, FEMA's guidance is plain: run it outdoors only, at least 20 feet from the house, and away from windows, doors and vents. Never run it in the garage, even with the door open. Keep it dry.
If you have a standby generator, have it serviced by a licensed pro before the season, and make sure someone knows how to check that it actually starts.
5. Test the carbon monoxide alarms
Storm season is when people run generators, space heaters and fireplaces all at once. NFPA recommends a carbon monoxide alarm outside each sleeping area and on every level of the house, tested at least once a month.
If a CO alarm goes off, get everyone out and call 911 from outside. The same goes for a gas smell or smoke. Don't stop to investigate.
6. Put the gear where you can reach it
Shovels, ice melt and a flashlight belong by the door you'll actually use, not behind the patio furniture in the back of the garage. Check that the snow blower starts now, while the shop that fixes it isn't buried in repairs.
If you're not home when it snows
That's the part most plans skip. The plow comes, the sidewalk sits, the mailbox goes over and nobody looks at the house until you're back.
My House Guardian is a house care service in Fairfield, Westport and Greenwich. One person who knows your house keeps the outside pros on schedule and checks that the job got done, whether you're home or not.