How to Prepare for a Texas Deep Freeze

In February of 2021, a series of winter storms and a major cold snap descended upon Texas. Houston residents, used to mild winters, huddled under blankets as the temperature plummeted to 13°F. More than 4.5 million homes and businesses in Texas were left without power, and at least 210 people died.

Cold snaps like this one are typically an anomaly. But Mother Nature doesn’t play by any rules, and each winter, we must prepare for the frigid possibility of another deep freeze. Take steps now to stay safe and warm this winter with our suggestions from Air Specialist.

Service your HVAC now

While Air Specialist is here for you 24/7, we know you’d rather avoid a middle-of-the-night breakdown. Routine maintenance ensures your heating system is ready for whatever winter throws at us this year. Call Air Specialist, and we’ll send one of our qualified technicians to inspect your system, check for leaks, tighten connections, and clean filters. We’ll work with you to find the most efficient, cost-effective solution if we find something wrong.

Protect your pipes

If the temperatures dip below freezing, homeowners run the risk of frozen and burst water pipes. When the meteorologists are predicting a hard freeze, disconnect hoses from each spigot and drain each pipe. Turn off your sprinkler system. Give your exterior pipes a little extra love by wrapping them with insulation or a protective covering. Also, make sure you know where your main water shutoff is if a pipe does freeze and bursts. If arctic weather materializes, leave a couple of water faucets dripping. Moving water is less likely to freeze.

Install a carbon monoxide detector

Poor ventilation or burning carbon-based materials in a small space can raise your risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Never rely on generators, grills, camp stoves, or other similar devices indoors. Do not rely on your gas stove or oven to stay warm. If the power goes out, plan on wearing layers and huddling together. Hang blankets over windows, shut off rooms you aren’t using and pull out the sleeping bags. You may find that your bed is the warmest place in the house; consider this permission to stay in bed all day!

Invest in a back-up generator

A generator allows you to plug in electronic warming devices, like space heaters or electric blankets. Remember to keep the kids away from the space heater and never leave one unattended. Even if it’s a mild winter, you’ll be glad you made the investment when a summer storm knocks out power, and you want to keep your refrigerator running!

Call Air Specialist if you need us!

If you wake up to a cold house, remember Air Specialist is available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. Whether you’re facing an emergency cold snap or you want to make sure your heating system is ready for winter, Air Specialist can keep your home comfortable. Call Air Specialist today at [csad_phone] or schedule an appointment online at your convenience.