What to do after a freeze season in Texas.

Hard freezes are just not something you think about when you move to Texas. It’s hard for people who move here from other states or countries to imagine that Texas is more than hot and dry, but we experience ALL four seasons. We can and have some harsh winters so its becoming more important to prepare and plan but also know what to check after a freeze.

After a freeze, when winterizing your home, you should primarily check for signs of frozen or burst pipes, including: dripping water, damp drywall, ceiling stains, unusual odors, bubbling sounds, and visible frost or bulging on exposed pipes; additionally, inspect for water leaks around windows and doors, and assess the functionality of your heating system to ensure it's properly warming your home

Key points to check after a freeze:

• Interior inspection:

  Walk through your house, checking faucets in kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms for water flow, and look for signs of water leaks like damp walls, ceiling stains, or unusual sounds.

• Exterior inspection:

  Check for water accumulation around your home's foundation and look for any visible signs of damage to exterior pipes.

• Unheated areas:

  Pay special attention to areas like basements, crawl spaces, attics, and garages where pipes are more susceptible to freezing.

• Functionality check:

  Turn on all faucets (hot and cold) to ensure water flows properly and check for any discoloration or unusual odor. 

Closing:

Just a reminder to my homeowners to check your home before and after winter freezes. We seem to be passed the bad weather this year but you never know in Texas. Now is a good time to make sure roof vents and flashing are not leaking from the attic space (video next month on that, your chimney is clean and the flue is working properly, garage doors are lubed and springs are tightened, gutters are free of debris and draining properly from the house, and blow out your dryer vents if you did not already do it. Check your shut off valves and make sure everything is dry and not leaking.