Is Your Home Ready for a Texas Cold Snap? A Winter Plumbing Self-Test

Texas winters don’t follow the rules. One day it’s 70 degrees, the next you’re scraping ice off your windshield and wondering if your pipes are about to stage a rebellion. At The Mink Plumbing, our plumbers in Tyler, TX have have seen what happens when homeowners think “it won’t get that cold here”—and then it does. Burst pipes, flooded crawl spaces, water heaters that quit right when you need them most.

The good news? Most cold-weather plumbing disasters are preventable. You just need to know what you’re working with before the temperature drops. This quick self-test will show you exactly where your home stands—and what to fix before the next freeze rolls through.

Grab a pen. Let’s find out if your plumbing’s ready.

The Winter Plumbing Readiness Test

Answer honestly. Each “no” is a vulnerability that cold weather will find.

Outdoor Protection

• Can you locate and operate your main water shutoff valve in under 60 seconds?
• Are all outdoor faucets disconnected from hoses and covered with insulated caps?
• Do you have frost-free hose bibs, or are your outdoor spigots the standard kind?
• Are any pipes running through unheated spaces like garages, attics, or exterior walls?

Water Heater Status

• Has your water heater been flushed or serviced in the past 12 months?
• Do you know how old your water heater is? (If it’s over 10 years old, that’s a “no”)
• Can you access your water heater easily if something goes wrong?
• Is your water heater in an unheated garage or closet?

Interior Plumbing

• Do all your faucets have steady water pressure (no weak streams or sputtering)?
• Have you checked under sinks for signs of moisture or small leaks recently?
• Do your toilets refill normally after flushing, with no running or slow fills?
• Are there any rooms in your house where pipes run along exterior walls?

Your Score: What It Means

0-3 “No” Answers: Low Risk Your plumbing’s in decent shape for winter, but don’t get complacent. Address those remaining gaps now—cold snaps don’t wait for convenient timing. Focus on the outdoor protection items first.

4-6 “No” Answers: Medium Risk You’ve got some work to do. The combination of aging equipment, unprotected pipes, and maintenance gaps means you’re one hard freeze away from a problem. Prioritize water heater issues and any exposed piping. Consider scheduling a professional inspection to catch what you might be missing.

7+ “No” Answers: High Risk Your plumbing system is seriously vulnerable. If a cold snap hits tomorrow, there’s a strong chance something’s going to fail. Don’t wait—get a professional out to assess yourwater heater, check forleaking pipes, and identify protection priorities before weather forces your hand.

What to Fix First (And Why)

Outdoor Faucets and Exposed Pipes

These fail first because they’re directly exposed to freezing air. Disconnect all hoses, drain the lines, and install insulated covers. If you’ve got pipes in an unheated garage or crawl space, wrap them with foam insulation now. This is cheap insurance that takes an hour.

Water Heater Maintenance

A water heater that’s limping along in October will quit completely in January. Sediment buildup reduces efficiency and capacity, which means you’re more likely to run out of hot water during a freeze when you need it most. If your unit’s over 10 years old or hasn’t been serviced recently, get it inspected. Replacing a water heater in an emergency costs more and takes longer than planned maintenance.

Main Shutoff Valve Access

If a pipe bursts, you’ve got maybe 2-3 minutes to stop the water before serious damage sets in. Can you find your main shutoff valve right now, in the dark, if you had to? If the answer’s no, locate it today. Make sure everyone in your house knows where it is. Test it to confirm it actually turns.

Interior Plumbing Under Sinks: That small drip you’ve been ignoring? In a freeze, minor leaks can turn into major failures. Check under every sink for moisture, corrosion, or weak connections. If you spot anything questionable, get it fixed. Small plumbing repairs now prevent emergency calls later.

Pipes Along Exterior Walls

If you’ve got plumbing running along outside-facing walls—especially in kitchens, bathrooms, or laundry rooms—those pipes are vulnerable. Open cabinet doors under sinks during freezing nights to let warm air circulate. For longer cold spells, consider leaving faucets dripping slightly. Moving water is much harder to freeze than still water.

The One Thing Most People Miss

Toilets. Specifically, older toilets in bathrooms that don’t get used much. The water in those tanks and bowls can freeze if the room gets cold enough, cracking the porcelain. If you’ve got a guest bathroom or an addition that isn’t heated consistently, check the temperature in there during cold weather. If it’s below 50 degrees, you’ve got a problem. Either heat the space or drain those fixtures when freezing weather’s forecast. A cracked toilet means toilet replacement, not just a repair—and that’s an expensive lesson.

When to Call for Backup

Some winter prep is DIY territory. Some isn’t. If you answered “no” to multiple questions about your water heater, exposed piping, or main plumbing system, you need a professional assessment. Trying to troubleshoot a complex plumbing issue during a freeze is expensive and stressful. Getting it handled beforehand is neither.

If you’ve got pipes in areas you can’t easily access—crawl spaces, attics, or inside walls—a plumber can identify vulnerable spots and recommend insulation or rerouting options. And if you’re dealing with an older home where the plumbing configuration is unclear, a professional inspection gives you the roadmap you need to protect what matters.

Don’t Wait for the Weather Report

The worst time to discover your plumbing isn’t winter-ready is when the temperature’s already dropping. Texas cold snaps don’t give much warning, and by the time everyone realizes a freeze is coming, plumbers are booked solid for days.

If this self-test revealed gaps in your winter readiness, fix them now. If you’re not sure what needs attention or you want a professional to verify everything’s in working order, contact The Mink Plumbing to schedule an inspection. We’d rather help you prevent problems than respond to emergencies—but if you do need emergency plumbing help, we’re here for that too!