The Texas Department of Insurance recommends the following to get a jump on freezing weather:
Know your coverages
Burst pipes. Ask your agent if your home or renters policy covers sudden and accidental water damage. This coverage pays for damage from burst pipes. Flood insurance doesn’t pay for damage caused by burst pipes.
Home and renters policies might not pay for damages caused by frozen pipes if you didn’t take steps to protect your pipes, such as keeping the heater on in your house.
Food spoilage. If the food in your refrigerator spoiled because of a power failure caused by something your policy covers, your policy should pay up to $500 to replace your food. And often there’s no deductible. Take pictures and keep a list of spoiled food.
Prepare days before a freeze Wrap outdoor and indoor pipes in unheated areas like a clothes washer in your garage. Remove water hoses and wrap outdoor pipes. Drain and turn off your lawn sprinkler system. Turn off the water to your clothes washer if it’s in an unheated garage. Store your lawn equipment in a garage or shed to keep them in good condition for next year. Drain the gas. If you leave your house before a freeze, turn off the water at the shutoff valve and leave your heat on.
Get your chimney inspected and cleaned. Creosote buildup can start a fire. Get your furnace inspected to ensure it’s safe and will last the winter. Test your carbon monoxide and smoke alarms. Alarms older than 10 years should be replaced. Seal leaks or cracks around bathroom and kitchen pipes.
Check your attic insulation for areas that need repair. Stock up on bottled water, nonperishable food, and batteries in case your power goes out.
Protect your pipes when it freezes
Open cabinets under sinks to let your house’s heat warm the pipes.
If your pipes freeze, turn off the water at the shutoff valve. This prevents broken pipes from leaking into your house after they thaw.
Let faucets drip from the cold and hot taps or run water through your indoor faucets – hot and cold -- before you go to sleep. Follow your local government’s instructions, which may limit water usage.
Trim trees hanging over your house and cars.
Clean the gutters. Winterize your pool and check your coverage. If the temperatures dip below freezing, run the pump to keep the pipes from freezing.
Find your water shutoff valve. It’s usually under a metal lid near the street between your house and the larger manhole cover with the city water shutoff valve. Test the valve to make sure it’s not stuck and that you can shut it off in an emergency. If you can’t, contact a plumber to replace it.
