Winter Plumbing Preparation: How to Protect Your Home or Business Before Temperatures Drop

Learn how to protect your pipes, water heaters, and plumbing systems this winter. Military Plumbing shares expert tips to prevent frozen pipes and costly repairs.

Texas winters may be short, but when the cold hits – it hits hard. Each year, we see a wave of calls from homeowners and businesses dealing with frozen pipes, burst lines, and water heater breakdowns. The good news? Most of these emergencies are preventable with a little bit of planning.

At Military Plumbing, we’ve been helping families and businesses across Northeast Texas protect their plumbing for over 13 years. Here’s our expert guide to getting your home or commercial property winter-ready – so you can enjoy peace of mind when the next cold snap rolls through.

1. Insulate Exposed Pipes

One of the easiest and most effective ways to prevent frozen pipes is to insulate them. Focus on pipes in unheated areas like garages, attics, and crawl spaces. Foam pipe sleeves or even heat tape can help maintain a safe temperature.

For commercial buildings, make sure maintenance staff checks exterior hose bibs, sprinkler systems, and exposed water lines regularly – these are common failure points when the temperature drops.

2. Disconnect and Drain Outdoor Faucets

Outdoor spigots are one of the first places we see freeze damage. Remove hoses, shut off any dedicated valves, and drain the water from the line before temperatures dip below freezing.

If you own a business with outdoor water access, schedule this task ahead of time – it’s an inexpensive step that can save thousands in repairs.

3. Service Your Water Heater

Cold weather puts extra strain on water heaters since incoming water is colder and takes longer to heat. A water heater tune-up ensures the system is ready for peak demand.

At Military Plumbing, we flush tanks, check the anode rod, and inspect the thermostat and heating elements. For tankless systems, descaling is essential to maintain efficiency.

4. Seal Air Leaks Around Plumbing

Even the smallest draft can freeze pipes if the air is cold enough. Check around windows, doors, and where pipes enter exterior walls. Use caulk or weatherstripping to keep cold air out.

Commercial properties with mechanical rooms or rooftop plumbing access should pay special attention to these vulnerable areas.

5. Know Where Your Main Shut-Off Valve Is

If a pipe does burst, every second counts. Make sure you and your family (or your staff, if you’re a business owner) know where the main shut-off valve is and how to operate it.

Shutting off the water quickly can prevent thousands of dollars in water damage.

6. Schedule a Plumbing Inspection

A professional inspection is the best way to catch small problems before they become emergencies. Our licensed plumbers use cameras and diagnostic tools to check for leaks, weak joints, or outdated pipes that might not survive a freeze.

This is also the perfect time to ask about upgrading to frost-proof fixtures or adding smart leak detection systems for whole-home protection.

Why Military Plumbing Is the Team You Can Trust

Choosing the right plumber for winter prep matters. Our Mission-Ready Guarantees give you confidence that the job will be done right:

• On-Time or We Pay: $15 credit for every 15 minutes we’re late (up to $300)

• Workmanship Assurance: If you’re not satisfied within 365 days, we’ll make it right or refund your labor.

• We’ve Got Your Back Warranty: If a manufacturer won’t honor a part we installed, we’ll step in to cover it.

• Straight Shooter Promise: The price we quote is the price you pay – no hidden fees.

And every Military Plumbing technician is licensed, insured, background-checked, and trained to treat your property with respect.

Take Action Before the Freeze

Winter plumbing preparation doesn’t have to be stressful – and it’s always cheaper to prevent a problem than to fix a disaster. Whether you’re a Plano homeowner insulating your pipes or a Rockwall business scheduling a preventive inspection, our team is ready to help.

📞 Call Military Plumbing today – 972-635-7676 – or schedule service online to get your winter prep handled by trusted local experts.