How to Winterize Your Houston Home (Yes, You Still Need To)

February 2021 changed everything. Winter Storm Uri dropped temperatures into the single digits across Houston, bursting pipes in millions of homes that were never designed for arctic conditions. The lesson was painful and expensive — Houston homes need winterization, even if it’s just for a few weeks out of the year.

Protect Your Pipes — The Most Critical Step

Houston homes have pipes in exterior walls, attics, and under-slab locations that are extremely vulnerable to freezing. Before cold weather hits:

• Insulate exposed pipes in the attic, garage, and under sinks on exterior walls with foam pipe insulation (available at any hardware store for about $1/foot)
• Know where your main water shutoff valve is located — if a pipe bursts, you need to turn it off within seconds
• Install faucet covers on all outdoor hose bibs
• During a freeze: let one faucet in every fixture drip slowly, especially on exterior walls
• Keep your thermostat no lower than 55°F even when away from home

Service Your Heating System

Most Houston homes use heat pumps or gas furnaces that rarely run. Annual service before the first cold snap ensures they work when needed. Change the filter, test the thermostat’s heating mode, and schedule a professional inspection if the unit hasn’t been serviced in 2+ years.

Check and Clean the Fireplace or Space Heaters

If you have a wood-burning or gas fireplace, have it inspected and the chimney swept before using it this winter. For portable space heaters, only use heaters with automatic tip-over shut-off, keep them 3 feet from anything flammable, and never use them while sleeping.

Seal Drafts Around Windows and Doors

Houston homes are built for heat management, not cold protection. Door gaps and window drafts that seemed minor in summer can cause significant heat loss in a cold snap. Add door sweeps to exterior doors, re-caulk window frames, and consider adding temporary window insulation film for older, single-pane windows.

Have an Emergency Plan

Know in advance: What will you do if power goes out for 48+ hours? Have warm blankets, candles, a battery radio, and enough non-perishable food. Identify a community warming center near you (CenterPoint Energy and the City of Houston open these during extreme weather events). Never use a gas oven or outdoor grill to heat your home — carbon monoxide is silent and deadly.