It used to be a joke that “winter” in Southeast Texas meant wearing a light jacket for two days in January. But after the historic freezes we have seen in recent years, nobody is laughing anymore. We all remember the busted pipes, the flooded ceilings, and the weeks without water.
The truth is, most homes in Beaumont and the Golden Triangle were simply not built for freezing temperatures. Our pipes are often located in uninsulated attics or exterior walls. But you don’t have to be a victim of the next cold snap. A little preparation now can save you a massive headache later.
Here is your essential guide to winterizing your plumbing before the temperature drops.
1. Disconnect Your Garden Hoses (The #1 Mistake)
This is the most common cause of winter plumbing damage, and it is 100% preventable. If you leave a garden hose attached to your outdoor spigot during a freeze, the water inside expands. Since it has nowhere to go, it backs up and bursts the copper pipe inside your wall.
Do this today: Walk around your house, unscrew every hose, drain them, and put them in the garage.
2. Insulate Your “Weak Spots”
Walk around the exterior of your home. Do you see any exposed pipes? Often, the main water line enters the house through a pipe sticking out of the ground near the foundation. These exposed pipes are the first to freeze.
The Fix: Go to the hardware store and buy foam pipe insulation (the pool noodle looking things) or specialized faucet covers. Wrap any exposed pipe you can find. It’s a $5 fix that saves $5,000 in damage.
3. Master the “Texas Drip”
When the weatherman predicts a “hard freeze” (temperatures staying below freezing for several hours), you need to keep your water moving. Moving water requires much colder temperatures to freeze than standing water.
The Strategy: Turn on the faucet that is furthest from your main water shut-off valve. Let it drip slowly—just a steady trickle. This relieves pressure in the system and keeps water circulating through the main line.
4. Know Your Shut-Off Valve Location
If a pipe does burst, speed is everything. Do you know exactly where to turn off the water to your whole house?
If you are scrambling to find the valve while water is pouring through your ceiling, it’s too late. Find it now. Test it to make sure it turns. If it’s stuck (which is common with old gate valves), call us to replace it with a reliable ball valve before the emergency hits.
Peace of Mind for the Winter
You can’t control the weather, but you can control how prepared you are. Don’t wait until the freeze warning pops up on your phone to think about your pipes.
If you have exposed pipes in your attic or aren’t sure if your home is ready, contact AMC Plumbing at +1 409-866-3030. We can perform a winter safety inspection and help you insulate your home against the cold.