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Preparing for Winter Checklist
Get your home ready before the first hard freeze. A simple winter plumbing checklist to protect your pipes, and what to do if one freezes anyway.
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North Texas freezes are short but sharp. A hard freeze rolls in for a night or two, catches pipes that were never built for it, and the thaw is when they burst. A little prep before the first cold snap saves you a flooded floor and an emergency call.
This checklist walks through what to do before winter, and what to do during a hard freeze if temperatures really drop. James Armstrong is a licensed Master Plumber with over 30 years of North Texas experience, and these are the steps he tells every homeowner to take.
Outside the Home
Most freeze damage starts outdoors, where pipes and fixtures have the least protection.
Drain and shut off exterior faucets and spigots.
Disconnect and store garden hoses so water does not sit and freeze in the line.
Seal any cracks or openings near pipes on exterior walls.
Inside and Unheated Areas
Pipes in spaces that do not get heat are the ones most likely to freeze.
Insulate exposed pipes in crawl spaces, attics, and garages.
Know the location of your main water shut-off valve and confirm it actually turns. A seized valve is useless in an emergency.
If the Home Will Be Empty
An empty house with no heat is where the worst freeze damage happens, because no one is there to catch it.
For an extended vacancy, either drain the system or keep the heat on at a low setting so the pipes stay above freezing.
During a Hard Freeze
When the temperature drops hard, a few simple steps keep water moving and pipes intact.
Open the cabinet doors under sinks so warm room air reaches the pipes.
Let a faucet drip slightly on the coldest nights. Moving water is much harder to freeze.
If a pipe does freeze, shut off the water at the main valve before it thaws. A frozen pipe often cracks while frozen, and the flood comes when it warms back up.
When to Call a Plumber
Some freeze problems are not a wait-and-see. Call right away if you have any of these.
A pipe that has already burst or is actively leaking.
A frozen pipe you cannot safely thaw, or one you suspect has cracked.
Water you cannot shut off even at the main valve.
James Armstrong Plumbing serves Mesquite and the surrounding Dallas Fort Worth area. Before the freeze or after a burst, call 214-918-6109 for fast help.
Want a printable copy? Download the checklist and keep it handy before the next freeze warning.
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