As the temperature drops and winter approaches, central Texas homeowners have to start turning their focus to protecting their prized backyards. An area that is in its glory in the spring and summertime becomes the focal point of defense against the unpredictable Texas winters. To ensure a pleasant and inexpensive spring, any homeowner should evaluate the current situation of their yard to help save on energy consumption and to minimize repair costs in the upcoming year.

Home Exterior:

Foundation, Doors and Windows: Start with the basics. Check the exterior of your home, including siding and foundation, for cracks or leaks that may let in cold air. These areas should be repaired or sealed. Also, make sure to remove any debris or vegetation that might be built up around the foundation to prevent rodent problems. To limit airflow, consider using weather-stripping around doors and caulk all windows. In addition, any cracked or damaged windows should be replaced.

Roof, Gutters and Downspouts:

Next on the winterizing list is the roof and precipitation management system. Inspect the roof for any leaks and replace worn, loose or missing shingles. Make sure the gutters are clean and that water flows properly through and out the downspout. Use a hose to test the functionality of your precipitation system. This is very important because any significant blockage can cause ice damming when water is forced to seep into a home because of clogged gutters, resulting in water drips from the ceiling and walls.

Outdoor Plumbing:

Examine all outdoor faucets and pipes for gaps, cracks or holes. These areas can make the home vulnerable to heat loss and should be caulked. Consider insulating these faucets and pipes with a flexible heating cable covered by a foam-sleeve. This is a relatively cheap tip and can save you from a huge hassle. In addition, don’t forget to disconnect any water hoses connected to the house so that you can drain and store them over the cold months. If you have an outdoor kitchen, you should use the shutoff valve to drain the sink of any excess water in preparation for winter.

Outdoor Plants:

Protecting backyard plants is always a top priority for central Texas homeowners. Any dedicated green thumb naturally dislikes spending all spring and summer tending to plants just to see them die in the winter. To help prevent the problem, wrap the dormant plants with organic material, such as mulch or pine needles, to provide insulation. Potted plants should be grouped together in an area that is protected from the wind. During extremely harsh winter weather, bring plants indoors or in a safe sheltered area.

Landscaping:

To ensure that your backyard looks as good next year as it did this year, winterizing is essential. First, trim any tree branches that hang too close to the house or to electrical wires. During freezes these branches can become heavy and collapse causing costly problems. If you have an irrigation system, turn it off, release the pressure and drain all the water out. This will help you avoid any expensive sprinkler repairs. For outdoor fountains, homeowners need to drain all water and cover it. The pump should be removed, cleaned and stored during winter months. All summer gardening equipment needs to be drained of gas and either stored until further use.

Outdoor Surfaces:

Most people take as much pride in their patio as they do in their living room. Winter can be extremely wearing on wood, especially decks, fences and outdoor kitchens. The best idea is to stain or re-stain all of the wood surfaces that will be exposed to the relentless winter winds and moisture. Remember that not all fences and decks are created equally, so be sure to use a protectant and finishing product appropriate for your type of wood. Brick patios and driveways also need winter protection. Use a quality sealant to avoid corrosion.

Aboveground Hot Tubs:

Depending on whether or not you decide to use your spa or hot tub during the winter months, there are two methods of care. Keeping in mind that it requires lots of energy to heat a tub any time of year, it is especially important to be sure your hot tub is functioning properly so no energy is wasted during cooler times of the year. To conserve energy, a floating thermal blanket can lower heat loss by reducing evaporation and help keep moisture buildup on the inside of your spa cover to a minimum. If you plan to give your spa a break during the winter, turn off the power, flush your system and drain the water. Remove all filters, loosen fittings and clean the inside shell of your tub. For wood tubs, leave a couple of inches of water in the bottom of the shell to prevent shrinking or cracking of the tub bottom.

Underground Pools:

The process of winter- proofing your pool starts by adding and running a ‘winterizing’ dose of chemical cleaner in the filter for up to 2 days. Next, clean floating debris and send the vacuum roaming. To keep the pool walls and bottom looking clean add stain preventer. Homeowners should then lower the water level just below the skimmers to aid with the cleaning process. Use “Swimming Pool Antifreeze” to flush out the pumps and prevent underground pipe damage. Once the antifreeze has been circulated drain the remaining pool filter, valves, lines and gauges to complete the process. Use a tight-fitting pool cover to protect it from winter winds and debris.

Here in Central Texas, we can never predict whether we’ll see intense ice storms or an 80-degree Christmas Day. Either way, we must be prepared for whatever Mother Nature throws our way.