Winter Weather Preparations for Your Home

While Aledo may not have freezing temperatures all winter long, temperatures frequently dip below 32°F (0°C). During winter months, freezing temperatures increase the risk of frozen pipes. It is important to mitigate risk as much as possible by being proactive in protecting your home or business. Below are some useful preparation tips and tricks for cold weather.

• Protect outdoor faucets and exposed pipes by wrapping them with rags and tying with bungee cords or zip ties. You can also purchase foam or fiberglass pipe wrap designed to be used on exposed pipes. You should be concerned mainly with exposed exterior pipes and pipes in unheated garages, attics, and crawl spaces.
• Close off crawl space vents and foundation openings. Repair broken or cracked windows. Make sure doors and windows close tightly. Many of the weather-proofing techniques that help to reduce your heating bill will also help to reduce the possibility that your pipes will freeze in cold weather.
• Most homes have a master valve or a main water shut-off that will allow you to turn off all the water coming into the house - LOCATE IT! If a pipe breaks somewhere in the house, you can turn off the water at this main valve. Show other family members where the main water shut-off is located.
• Be sure to shut off your sprinkler system during the winter months to help conserve water and prevent damage to the system. If necessary, run the system manually from November - February. Consult the owner’s manual for your irrigation system and consider contacting a professional before winterizing your system.
• Now is also a good time to drain and store any water hoses that you may not use for a while. It is suggested to store your garden hose indoors to prevent it from splitting or bursting so that you don’t have to replace it once the weather warms back up. Make sure you insulate faucets after removing hoses to keep them from freezing.
• While different types of pools require different approaches, some tips apply to most pools: remove debris, scrub pool walls, clean filters, and balance pH levels before covering your pool or shutting down the pump. Consult your owner’s manual or a pool services professional for other specific winterization steps for your pool.
• Look for leaks around toilets, under sinks, in & around showers & tubs, & near water heaters. If a pipe freezes & you experience a break or leak the first thing to do is shut off the water at the master shut-off valve as quickly as possible. Call a plumber to repair the break or leak.
• Step outside and look at your roof, gutters, & downspouts. Broken shingles or damaged flashing can be a sign that water might be penetrating your roof. Clean your gutters to allow rainwater to flow properly. Extensions to downspouts are sometimes necessary if the water isn’t running far enough away from the foundation of your house.