What You Can Do Now To Protect Your Home From North Texas Winter Weather
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You probably woke up to some serious ice and maybe some snow, and it’s only going to get wintrier as the day progresses. If you haven’t taken a few basic steps to protect your home, you may regret it later. It may be too late to stock up on toilet paper, but it’s actually not too late to prevent the winter weather from damaging your home. Here are a few tips:
Check the “Big 5”
Insulation: Obviously, you can’t do anything about the insulation in your attic or walls — specifically, the insulation around your pipes. Still, you should open cabinet doors under all the sinks in the house to expose them to the heat indoors. If you have pipes in unconditioned spaces indoors that you can access, wrap them with pipe insulation or go the homegrown route and use towels, old t-shirts, and the like. Outside, detach garden hoses and insulate the spigots. You can use insulated covers that are available at any hardware store, or, if you can’t get out because of the precipitation, use a plastic bag stuffed with cloth and seal it with duct tape.
Roof: It’s been raining, so you should get in the attic and check for any leaks. If you find a leak, the most important step is to keep the water damage to a minimum. Use buckets to catch any drips and set timers to change the buckets. If water is running down a wall, you may be able to use tarps or plastic to divert the water to buckets until repairs can be completed by a professional.
Power: Is your backup generator powered and ready to go? Don’t have a backup generator? Do you have flashlights handy with extra batteries? Is your fireplace clean and ready for use? Is the route to the electrical panel clear in case you need to get there in the dark? Are your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors all operational? If you’re using candles and/or a fireplace, make sure you know where your fire extinguisher is and if it’s operational.
Supplies: So, you pretty much have whatever supplies you’re going to have for the next couple of days, but in the event of a power outage, it’s a good idea to have a base of operations in the house. Gather some supplies in one room where everyone can meet and stay together for warmth: activities for the kids, blankets, etc. You may choose to all sleep together if the power goes out. It’s best to prepare for that while there’s light.
Pipes: We talked about insulating the pipes, but don’t forget to keep them dripping once the temperature drops below freezing! And if you have a pool, keep the pump running.
For more winter weather tips, check out our column “Prepare Your Home For The Upcoming Freeze With Advice From Home Inspectors,” which includes instructions on how to use your emergency water shut-off valve in the event of a burst pipe. Stay safe and warm out there!
