Why January Is the Best Month to Handle the One Home Issue Everyone Puts Off
Texas winters may be short, but the quick temperature swings we get each year can quietly create one of the most common and preventable home issues: frozen outdoor plumbing.
Outdoor faucets are easy to forget about. They are used seasonally, often out of sight, and usually assumed to be fine once the cold passes. But January is actually the best time to pay attention to them, before a small issue turns into a bigger and more expensive repair.
Why outdoor faucets are so vulnerable in winter:
Unlike interior plumbing, outdoor faucets and the pipes connected to them are exposed to the elements. Sudden drops in temperature, wind, and repeated warming and cooling can all put stress on exterior pipes. Even a short freeze can cause pipes to expand and contract, which increases the risk of cracks inside the wall.
In North Texas, the risk is less about long stretches of cold and more about how quickly temperatures change. Pipes do not always have time to adjust.
What can happen when outdoor plumbing freezes
One of the tricky parts about frozen outdoor faucets is that the damage is not always obvious right away. Many homeowners do not realize there is a problem until weeks later when the weather warms up and the system is back in use. Some of the most common issues seen include:
Cracked pipes hidden behind exterior walls
Slow leaks that go unnoticed
Interior water damage or moisture issues
Repairs that could have been avoided with simple protection
Why January is the ideal time to take care of it
By January, most homes have already been through at least one cold snap. While we may be in a current warm week, winter is coming! Early this month makes the best time to check how your exterior plumbing is holding up and take a few preventative steps before the rest of winter.
At a minimum, homeowners should:
Inspect outdoor faucets for visible cracks or leaks
Disconnect hoses and attachments
Make sure exterior faucets are protected during future freezes (with your custom FPH outdoor faucet cover)
Taking care of this now can help prevent issues later and give you a little more peace of mind through the remainder of winter.
A small step that makes a big difference
One of the simplest ways to protect outdoor faucets is with an outdoor faucet cover. These covers help block cold air and wind, reducing the chance of freezing during sudden temperature drops. It is an easy, affordable step that can help prevent much larger problems.
Our way of helping
To make winter home care a little easier, we are offering complimentary outdoor faucet covers to our clients while supplies last. If you have not claimed yours yet, get yours before we run out! You can do so here:
Claim Your Outdoor Faucet Cover
Protecting your home does not always require a major project. Sometimes it is the small details that make the biggest difference.
