Central Texas winter prep: Protect your home and apartment

Nik Balakirev kicks frozen grass while walking during a winter storm on Thursday, Feb. 3, 2022. Mikala Compton/American-Statesman

It’s not officially winter yet, but as Austinites know, the weather can boomerang from warm to frigid in the fall and winter months — whether you’re renting or prepping as a homeowner, here’s how to prepare your home or apartment for when that freeze inevitably hits.

Tips for renters

Regularly check your pipes, especially those in areas that get less heat, like exterior walls. Locate your water shutoff valves under sinks and behind toilets, as well as your main shutoff valve (this may require checking with your property manager).

Make sure your heater is working properly. Don’t wait until it freezes to turn it on for the first time this season — turn it on early and make sure it doesn’t need maintenance.

Seal any gaps around windows or doors to help retain warmth. You can also buy thermal curtains for your windows if you notice cold air gets in easily.

Check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, as well as any other emergency power systems you have, like a generator or portable battery. Get backup power options if you don’t have any.

If your apartment has a fireplace or chimney, make sure to have it inspected or cleaned before you use it.

Stock up on blankets and sleeping bags, and make sure you have a freeze kit ready in case of emergencies.

Create an emergency plan in case your apartment or rental isn't cutting it and you need to evacuate to a friend or family member's house.

Tips for homeowners

Salt your driveways and sidewalks. The city may do this for main roadways, but they won't get to your driveway or walkway at your home, so make sure you've got some salt on hand to prevent slips. Rock salt is the most popular choice but can harm concrete or plants, and magnesium chloride is more pet-friendly (sand is OK for pets, too). You can buy most of these products at hardware stores, Walmart, Home Depot, Lowe's and Target. Use a small amount of salt -- roughly enough to fill a coffee cup for a 20-foot driveway.

Do an insurance assessment before the weather hits. Do you have adequate insurance if water comes in from rain, snow or a broken pipe? Does your insurance match the rise in the value of your house and the cost of what you may need covered?

Get your heater serviced. Make sure that everything is working properly before it gets any colder. Most heat pumps last about eight to 12 years. Furnaces last 10 to 15 years. Most people change out their heat pumps and furnaces with their air conditioners — which last only 10-13 years in Texas — because the systems have to be matched. In heat pumps, the compressors tend to go out; in gas furnaces, it’s the igniter. Do the maintenance on your system to extend the life as long as possible.

Your heater might need to be replaced if it is more than 15 years old, needs frequent repairs, there’s an extreme increase in energy bills even when your thermostat is set on low, it’s making loud or unusual noises, or the temperature is not consistent.

Check the water heater. Most water heaters last 10 to 12 years. New water heater standards that went into practice in 2015 mean that new water heaters save more energy, but are larger and might not fit in your standard water heater closet. See if your water heater might be on its way out, so you can make the change and possibly remodel before you have no hot water.

Get the chimney swept and the dryer vent, too. You should get your fireplace cleaned every 50 fires, or every cord of wood for a wood-burning fireplace. While you’re at it, the same company also can clean out your dryer vent. That should be done once a year. Even if it isn’t time to clean the fireplace, make sure the damper is working and the flue is open. The chimney sweep removes the creosote that clings to the chimney and inspects it to make sure there hasn’t been a chimney fire and that there are no cracks or animals taking up residence. Most fireplaces last about 20 to 30 years before cracks start to appear. Shifts in the foundation might add to cracking. Make sure you leave 2 feet of space around the fireplace and use the screen whenever there is a fire going. Don’t store wood or anything flammable next to it. Keep the damper open even after the fire has ended until you no longer feel heat from the fireplace.

Call the plumber. Much of the damage from 2021's winter blast came from pipes breaking. Have the plumber check for pipe leaks as well as that all the toilets are flushing properly, the faucets are not leaking and the showers have good water flow. A good rule of thumb is to do preventative maintenance on your plumbing every six months to a year and use a water softener to help pipes avoid mineral deposits.

Stock up on pipe insulation. Buy a pipe insulator or faucet cover to slip onto any exposed pipe or faucet when the temperature dips. If you already have pipe insulation installed, make sure it’s in good shape.

Check the attic insulation. Insulation compresses with time. Most attics are designed to have about an R-39 value, so you’ll want about 13 inches to 14 inches of insulation.

Look at the roof. Winter and spring tend to be wetter in Austin, and your roof has just taken a beating from the summer sun. Are there missing or folded-up shingles or granules falling to the ground? You want to see shingles in straight lines. If you see a dip, it could be an indication of roof rot.

Clear the gutters. This is the time of year when they get clogged with leaf and plant debris. You don’t want them backing up and damaging the roof.

Weather-proof around doors and windows. Check the caulking around windows and doors for leaks. Add weather stripping around the doors if you don’t have it or the old stripping is worn. This will help you keep in the heat during the winter.

Check the settling of the structure. As the weather shifts, so does your home. Doors and windows might start to stick. You might just need someone handy to adjust door and window locks. If you’re seeing cracks in the drywall and foundation, you want to call a foundation repair company to take a look.

Call the electrician. Make a list of things that aren’t working and make one appointment to save some money.

Change the batteries in the smoke detector and carbon monoxide detectors. If you didn’t do it with the time change, what are you waiting for?