Those who live in our master planned community in North Texas know that even though our state may be in the South, we still have to plan ahead for colder temperatures during the winter, as well as ice and possible snow.
The weather in North Texas is great, but even here we still have an average of 33 freeze days between October and April, according to the National Weather Service. Most of those fall between December and February. Get ready to bundle up and tackle a few home winterization projects this weekend to help get your home ready for Old Man Winter before he arrives!
Here are some tips for winterizing your home in North Texas:
Indoors:
- Prep the plumbing, and don’t forget the area underneath the house if you have a crawlspace. Consider putting insulation around your pipes to protect them against a freeze.
- Tune-up your HVAC system. Most HVAC providers offer pre-season checkups that can help you avoid unpleasant surprises when you need your furnace the most. Also, be sure to change your furnace filter regularly!
- Take advantage of your mudroom, if you have one, or create another dedicated space in the house to keep winter shoes and coats in one spot.
- Plan ahead for those items that help keep you warm. If you’ve got a fireplace, make sure that it’s stocked with wood and the chimney is clean. Pile on warm blankets. And if you use space heaters or electric blankets, be sure to only use them as instructed!
- Prepare a kit in the event of a power outage, and include things to keep you warm along with batteries, flashlights, and so on. It’s also a good idea to keep the number for your HVAC company handy, in case the furnace goes out on the coldest night of the year.
Winterize Outside of House:
- Keep your plants healthy through the winter months. Bring potted plants inside and cover outside plants with a frost cloth, which you can pick up at your local garden center or hardware store.
- Clean your gutters and check for debris to ensure that water drains away from your home. Water that pools on your roof during the winter can freeze, leading to serious roof damage.
- Weatherproof your backyard items. Here in North Texas, we love a good barbecue, but you won’t be using that grill during the winter months. If you can’t bring it inside, you’ll want to cover it – along with any lawn furniture – while it’s not in use.
- If you have control over your sprinkler or irrigation systems, shut them off over the winter and keep an eye on them to prevent lines from freezing. Even if you have freeze sensors or other failsafes, it’s a good idea to drain the main line and turn off any auto schedules or other timers.
Doing all of these things will help your home in Aubrey, Texas stay as warm and comfortable as can be throughout the winter months. Don’t forget that we’ve got plenty going on here at Sandbrock Ranch, even when the weather outside is frightful. Sign up and stay tuned to our Ranch newsletter for community updates all winter long.
If you’re looking for new homes for sale in Aubrey, Texas, don’t forget that Sandbrock Ranch has gorgeous homes, top-notch amenities, and a close-knit community, all tucked into a breathtaking North Texas landscape that’s close to shopping, dining, and other conveniences!
