Winter Storm Home Prep Checklist for Texas

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North Texas doesn't get many big winter storms, but when we do, they hit hard. Ice on the roads, power outages, frozen pipes. Plenty of us still think about Winter Storm Uri, when Winter Storm Uri left families without heat or water for days. You can't control the weather. You can control how ready your house is.

Here's our checklist, broken into before, during and after. It's plain and practical, and it focuses on your home, because that's what we know.

What Should I Do a Few Days Before a Winter Storm?

Plumbing

• Disconnect, drain and store garden hoses
• Cover outdoor faucets and protect your irrigation backflow preventer. See winterizing outdoor faucets and backflow
• Insulate exposed pipes in the attic, garage and crawl space
• Find your main water shutoff and make sure it turns
• Know where your water heater shutoff and gas shutoff are

Power and heat

• Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and replace batteries
• Charge phones, power banks and flashlights
• If you have a generator, test it outside and plan where it will run, well away from doors and windows
• Gather blankets, warm layers and sleeping bags
• Fill up the car and keep it in the garage if possible

Supplies

• Drinking water for each person and pet for several days
• Non-perishable food that doesn't need cooking
• Medications, first aid and baby or pet supplies
• A battery radio or a plan to get weather updates

Outside

• Trim limbs that hang over the roof or power lines, if there's time
• Clear gutters so melting ice can drain
• Bring in or secure patio furniture and plants

What Should I Do When the Freeze Arrives?

• Keep the thermostat steady, day and night
• Open cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls
• Let faucets drip, hot and cold, especially on outside walls
• Keep the garage door closed
• Close off unused rooms to keep heat in the main living area
• Never use a grill, camp stove or outdoor heater indoors
• Run generators only outside, far from the house

What If the Power Goes Out?

Gather everyone in one room, preferably an interior room with few windows. Close doors and hang blankets over windows. Keep faucets dripping. If the outage looks like it will last and temperatures stay well below freezing, you may choose to shut off the main and drain the plumbing by opening the lowest faucet in the house. That reduces pressure and limits how much water can escape if a pipe splits.

If your water heater is gas, follow the manufacturer's guidance about pilot lights. If you smell gas, leave the house and call the gas company from outside.

What Should I Check After the Storm?

The thaw is when a lot of the damage shows up. Walk the house as temperatures rise:

• Look for water stains or bulges on ceilings and walls
• Check under sinks, around the water heater and in the attic if safe
• Listen for running water when everything's off
• Check your water meter for movement
• Look at the roof and gutters from the ground for damage from ice or falling limbs

If a pipe bursts, shut off the main right away and follow our guide on what to do when a pipe bursts.

Who Do I Call If My Home Is Damaged?

For water, CMDR Restoration, our mitigation partner (licensed by TDLR, RCO #1801), handles extraction and drying. G3 rebuilds what has to come out, and we can look at roof and storm damage too. After a big storm, a lot of people are calling at once. We'll be honest with you about timing and help you protect your home in the meantime.

Learn more on our water damage page or call (945) 300-9018.

Frequently Asked Questions

Keep learning: see our CMDR Restoration & Mitigation page, read How to Winterize Outdoor Faucets and Backflow Preventers, or read what homeowners say in our customer reviews.