The Fort Worth "Flash Freeze" Survival Guide: 5 Crucial Steps to Winterize Your Home

If you’ve lived in Fort Worth for more than a few years, you know the drill. We enjoy mild, sunny Decembers, and we get lulled into a false sense of security. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, an arctic blast rolls down through the plains, dropping temperatures into the teens for 48 hours.

We all remember the freeze of 2021. It taught us a hard lesson: North Texas homes aren't built like homes in Minnesota. Our pipes are often in attics or exterior walls, and our slab foundations handle cold differently.

The good news? You don’t need to turn your home into an arctic bunker. You just need to prepare for those specific "flash freeze" events that cause catastrophic damage in DFW. A little preparation now can save you thousands of dollars in water damage restoration later.

Here is your Fort Worth winterizing checklist.

1. The Golden Rule: Protect Your Pipes

Plumbing failures are the number one cause of winter property damage in our area. Because many local homes have water lines running through unconditioned attics, they are highly susceptible to bursting when temps hit the low 20s.

The Action Plan:

• The "Drip" Technique: When temperatures are forecast to drop below freezing for more than a few hours, let your faucets drip. You want a slow trickle, not just droplets. Focus on faucets located on exterior walls. The movement of water makes it harder to freeze.

• Open the Cabinets: Open the cabinet doors under your kitchen and bathroom sinks. This allows warmer air from your living space to circulate around the plumbing.

• Know Your Shut-Off: This is critical. Do you know where your main water shut-off valve is? In most Fort Worth homes, it’s outside near the street in a concrete or plastic box buried in the ground. Go find it today while the weather is nice. You may need a "water meter key" (available at any hardware store) to turn it. If a pipe bursts, turning this off fast is the difference between a puddle and a flooded house.

2. The #1 Easiest Mistake: Disconnect Garden Hoses

This is the simplest task, yet the most commonly forgotten.

If you leave a garden hose attached to your outdoor spigot during a freeze, the water inside the hose expands. This pressure backs up into the spigot and the pipe inside your wall. The result? The pipe splits inside the wall, and you won't know it until the thaw comes and water starts pouring into your home.

The Action Plan: Disconnect all hoses, drain them, and store them. Go a step further and buy inexpensive foam faucet covers for your outdoor spigots. They take 30 seconds to install and offer great protection.

3. Seal the "Envelope" (Keep the Heat In)

Fort Worth winds can be brutal during a cold front. If your home feels drafty, your heating system is working overtime, and cold spots are forming where pipes might be hiding.

The Action Plan:

• Check Doors and Windows: Look for worn-out weather stripping around exterior doors. If you can see daylight around the edges, you are losing heat.

• The Attic Tent: If you have pull-down attic stairs, buy an "attic tent" or cover. That thin piece of plywood is practically uninsulated, acting like a chimney sucking heat right out of your hallway.

4. Give Your HVAC a Fighting Chance

Your furnace or heat pump is about to run a marathon. Make sure it’s in shape.

The Action Plan:

• Change the Filter: A clogged air filter restricts airflow, forcing the system to work harder and hotter. This is a fire risk and an efficiency killer.

• The "Burning Smell" Test: Turn your heat on before the first freeze. You will likely smell burning dust for the first few minutes—that's normal. If the smell persists, or if it isn't blowing hot air, call a technician now before their phone lines are jammed during the first cold snap.

5. Prepare the Exterior for Ice

While snow is rare here, ice storms are not. Heavy ice accumulation can wreak havoc on your home's exterior.

The Action Plan:

• Clean the Gutters: When it rains and then immediately freezes, clogged gutters turn into heavy blocks of ice that can pull the gutters right off your fascia boards. Ensure water can flow freely.

• Trim Overhanging Branches: Ice makes tree limbs incredibly heavy. If you have large branches hanging over your roof or driveway, trim them back now so they don't snap under the weight of ice and damage your home.

Don't Panic, Just Prepare.

Winter in Fort Worth doesn't have to be stressful. By taking these few hours to prepare your home now, you can relax when the weatherman predicts that inevitable January freeze.

If you do experience winter storm damage, know who to call. Valor Building Solutions is here to help Fort Worth homeowners recover quickly.