Protecting Your Statesville Home from Winter Freeze Damage: Essential Cold Weather Checklist

Winter weather in Statesville can arrive quickly, and when temperatures drop into the teens and twenties, your home needs protection. Frozen pipes, damaged heating systems, and cold-related emergencies can cost thousands in repairs—but most are completely preventable with a few simple steps.

Protect Your Pipes from Freezing

Drip your faucets overnight. When temperatures are forecast to drop below freezing, let faucets on exterior walls drip slowly overnight. Moving water is much harder to freeze than standing water in pipes.

Open cabinet doors under sinks. This simple trick allows warm air from your home to circulate around pipes, preventing them from freezing. It's especially important for sinks on exterior walls.

Disconnect outdoor hoses and cover spigots. Water trapped in outdoor hoses can freeze and back up into your interior pipes, causing cracks and bursts. Remove hoses and use insulated spigot covers available at any local hardware store.

Insulate exposed pipes. Pipes in unheated areas like garages, crawl spaces, and attics are especially vulnerable. Foam pipe insulation is inexpensive and can prevent costly damage.

Keep Your Home's Systems Running

Know your main water shutoff valve location. In an emergency, you need to be able to cut off water to your home quickly. Make sure every adult in your household knows where it is and how to use it. Tag it clearly so there's no confusion during a stressful situation.

Keep your thermostat at 55° or higher, even when away. It's tempting to lower the heat when you're gone to save money, but the cost of frozen pipes far exceeds any heating bill savings. Maintain at least 55° at all times during cold snaps.

Protect Your HVAC System

Clear snow from dryer vents, exhaust pipes, and furnace intakes. Heavy snow can block these critical vents, causing dangerous carbon monoxide buildup inside your home or forcing your heating system to shut down.

Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Cold weather means your heating system is running constantly. Make sure your detectors have fresh batteries and are functioning properly.

Change your furnace filter. A clean filter helps your system run efficiently during the months when you need it most.

What to Do If Disaster Strikes

Even with the best preparation, pipes can still freeze or burst. Here's what to do:

If a pipe freezes (but hasn't burst):

• Keep the faucet open—running water will help melt ice
• Apply heat to the frozen section using a hairdryer, heating pad, or hot towels
• Never use an open flame or torch
• Work from the faucet back toward the frozen area

If a pipe bursts:

• Immediately shut off your main water valve - KNOW WHERE THIS IS IN ADVANCE!!
• Turn off electricity to affected areas if water is near outlets or appliances
• Call a licensed plumber right away
• Document damage with photos for insurance
• Remove standing water as quickly as possible to prevent mold

For emergency restoration:

• Contact a licensed water damage restoration company within 24-48 hours
• Call your homeowner's insurance company to file a claim
• Don't wait—water damage worsens rapidly and mold can start growing within 24-48 hours

Why This Matters for Statesville Homeowners

With our unpredictable winter weather bringing ice and freezing rain to Iredell County, these precautions aren't optional—they're essential. A burst pipe can cause $5,000-$10,000 in water damage within hours. Taking 30 minutes to winterize your home can save you thousands in repairs and the stress of dealing with an emergency.

Pro tip: Keep the contact information for a trusted plumber and water damage restoration company saved in your phone before you need them. When disaster strikes at 2 AM on a Sunday, you don't want to be frantically searching online reviews.

Questions about protecting your home's value? As local real estate experts, we're happy to connect you with trusted contractors and home service professionals in the Statesville area.