Protect your home and landscape from freezing weather - tips here

By: Woodlands Water | Published 01/02/2025

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FREEZE PROTECTION TIPS

The risk of a freeze in The Woodlands runs from late November through early March. If you haven't done so already, take steps now to protect your home and landscape, and double-check your your leak notifications in WaterSmart.

For the Home

Prior to Freezing Weather

Locate your water main shutoff valve and make sure it works. Shut off valves are critical for preventing pipes from freezing (see below) and for stopping the flow of water in an emergency (the first step in responding to a leak). Before it freezes, locate your house’s water main shutoff valve and turn it on and off to ensure it works. Keep it accessible and clear of obstacles. Shutoff valves are commonly located between the garage and laundry room.

Prepare outside faucets. Remove all connected hoses and wrap faucets with towels or install Styrofoam insulators.

Drain and winterize your irrigation backflow preventer. Learn how to perform this essential step here.

Insulate exposed pipes. Insulate pipes in unheated and drafty areas, such as an attic or garage. Hardware and plumbing supply stores carry insulation to help keep pipes from freezing. Also, check manufacturer recommendations for your water heater.

Prepare before leaving town. If you plan to be away during the freeze, turn your water off at the house main water shutoff valve (commonly located between the garage and laundry room), open faucets to drain water and leave them open, open cabinet doors below all sinks, and set your thermostat to 65 degrees or higher. Be sure you're signed up for leak alerts from WaterSmart so you don't come home to a disaster.

During Freezing Weather

Turn off water at night, then open faucets and leave open. At night, turn off your water at your house main water shutoff valve (commonly located between the garage and laundry room). After doing so, run all faucets until water no longer flows out and leave the faucets open. During hours when you need ready access to water, slightly drip your faucets.

Keep the thermostat at room temperature, day and night. Avoid turning down at night (the energy bill will be cheaper than repairing frozen pipes).

Protect indoor faucets. Open cabinet doors beneath kitchen and bathroom sinks to allow warm air to circulate around pipes. Be sure to remove any toxic substances located in these cabinets if there are children or pets living in the residence.

Keep interior doors open. Do not isolate rooms by closing doors. This can make those areas much more likely to freeze.

Keep garage doors closed.

Contact Woodlands Water at (855) H20-SAVE (436-7283) if you need

assistance shutting off your water during an emergency.

For the Landscape

Prior to Freezing Weather

Mulch. Apply 3-4 inches of organic mulch (such as straw, leaves, or bark) around the base of plants. Mulch helps insulate the soil and retain heat.

Water. Water plants thoroughly before a freeze. Moist soil retains heat better than dry soil, protecting plants roots. Be careful to not to overwater so you avoid root rot. Water early in the day so that the soil has time to absorb moisture before temperatures drop.

Cover. Use frost blankets, old blankets, burlap, or even inverted buckets or pots to cover vulnerable plants. Make sure the cover extends to the ground to trap the heat radiating from the soil. Plastic works, too, but be sure to remove it during the day to avoid overheating your plants.

Install windbreaks. Wind can maginfy the effects of cold temperatures. Install temporary windbreaks, such as burlap or plastic barriers, on the windward side of vulnerable plants to reduce the impact of cold winds.

Move Potted Plants. Where possible, move potted plants to a sheltered location, such as a garage or covered porch.

Apply heat sources. Use outdoor-approved heating devices to provide additional warmth. Holiday string lights with incandescent bulbs (not LED) work great. Avoid using open flames or electric heaters, as they can pose a fire hazard.

* Plan for future freezes by selecting native plants for your landscape. They tolerate extreme weather, winter and summer, much better than non-natives.