Facing nasty weather is no one’s idea of a good time, especially here in the south when we are not "set up" to deal with extreme cold temperatures. Yet it is a problem that Texans have to face all the same. If you’re looking for realistic tips on how to keep you and your home safe during times of colder weather, you’re in the right spot!
Take care of your water pipes and faucets
One of the most common problems during freezing weather is to have frozen pipes. Many Texas homes don’t have insulation around water pipes, and this leaves them vulnerable to the temperature drop causing a problem.
Use heat tape to tightly cover water pipes inside your home. For those that have water lines running behind or in cabinets, leave those cabinets open. This goes for the kitchen but also the bathrooms and ensuites.
For those that keep gardening hoses attached to the external faucet, detach the hose from the faucet (drain it completely) and store it inside. Also, drain the faucet and then cover it like you did with your water pipes.
If you don’t know where your water shut-off is, now is a good time to find it and know how to use it. This helps you know how to turn it off quickly if you were to have a water leak due to a broken pipe.
Know how to use space heaters properly
If extra layers of clothing and blankets aren’t enough, you can use space heaters in your home. Just remember to use them safely! Top tips include avoiding using extension cords (plug them directly into the wall) and also keeping the space heaters at least 3 feet away from walls and other combustible materials (curtains, bedding, etc.).
One of the most important details to remember with space heaters is that they should never be left unattended. Turn them off, and unplug them when you are leaving the room, or take them with you to the next room!
Keep your grills outside
For those that don’t have space heaters, you might be tempted to bring your grill inside. After all, even when you aren’t using it for food, it gives off heat! However, these are dangerous to use inside because of the carbon monoxide. No matter how tempted you are, keep those grills outside and away from windows, doors, and other ventilation access points.
Check out your weather stripping and repair what you can
If your doors and windows have poor weather stripping, this can lead to heat leaking outside and cold air leaking inside. Try to repair whatever weather stripping you can. Also, check for crumbling caulking and other stripping around your home’s foundation. This helps keep the weather outside!
Even though the deep cold weather is not common, it’s still important to know how to protect your home and all of the people and pets in it. Safety in cold weather goes a lot further than most people realize, so do everything in your power to remember these tips, and share them with anyone else that you think can use the extra reminder!
While we can't help you keep your house warm, we can help to be sure that you are properly insured before and should anything happen. We hope it doesn't but we are here to help if it does. Contact Harbour Insurance Services at (281) 520-4090 with any questions.