Most winters on Lake LBJ are mild. That's the problem. Because hard freezes are rare in Central Texas, homes here aren't built for them: water lines run through exterior walls and attics, hose bibs are exposed, pool equipment sits outside, and irrigation backflow preventers stand above ground.
When a serious freeze does arrive — as it did across Texas during Winter Storm Uri in February 2021 — the damage is widespread, plumbers are booked for weeks, and the homes hit hardest are the ones nobody was in. If your lake house sits empty in winter, a little preparation goes a long way.
Before the first freeze: outside
- Disconnect garden hoses and cover every outdoor faucet. A hose left attached traps water in the faucet, which is the first thing to split. Insulated faucet covers are inexpensive and take seconds to put on.
- Protect the irrigation system. Turn the controller off for the season or set it to rain mode. The above-ground backflow preventer is especially vulnerable — insulate it, and know how to shut it off and drain it ahead of a hard freeze.
- Prepare the pool. Most modern pool systems have freeze protection that runs the pump when temperatures drop, since moving water resists freezing. Confirm it's enabled and working. If a freeze comes with a power outage, the equipment may need to be drained — talk to your pool service about a plan in advance.
- Shut off and drain water lines to the dock. Dock plumbing is fully exposed to wind and cold.
- Shut off water to the outdoor kitchen. Sinks, ice makers, and their supply lines are all at risk.
- Follow your boat manufacturer's cold-weather guidance. Water left in an engine block or lines can freeze and crack them. Ask your marine service what your boat needs.
- Store cushions and secure furniture ahead of winter winds.
Before the first freeze: inside
- Leave the heat on — at least 55°F. This is the single most important rule for a vacant home. Turning the heat off to save a few dollars is how pipes freeze.
- Have the heating system serviced and change the filter before you need it.
- Know where your main water shutoff is — and make sure whoever looks after your home knows too.
- Consider shutting off the water at the main when you'll be away for an extended stretch. Check first how that affects your water heater, ice makers, and any fire sprinkler system.
- Think about an outdoor tankless water heater. Many Texas homes have one mounted on an exterior wall. Their built-in freeze protection needs electricity, so a freeze plus a power outage is a real risk. Ask your plumber how to drain yours.
- Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
- Consider leak sensors or a smart water shutoff valve. They're inexpensive insurance for a home nobody is in.
When a hard freeze is forecast
- Open cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls so warm air reaches the pipes.
- Make sure the pool's freeze protection is actually running.
- Double-check that faucet covers are still in place.
- If a long outage is possible, shutting off and draining the water is the safest option.
After the freeze: the step everyone skips
Frozen pipes usually don't leak while they're frozen. They leak when they thaw. That means the most important moment to have someone in your house is the day temperatures climb back above freezing — not a week or a month later when you next visit.
Someone should walk the entire home, inside and out, looking for water: under sinks, around the water heater, at the hose bibs, around the pool equipment, at the irrigation backflow preventer, and at the dock.
How we help
For the homes we manage, putting faucet covers on in winter is part of our maintenance management service, and every home gets a full interior and exterior walk-through every week — including checking for leaks, confirming the hot water is working, and looking over the pool equipment. If something does go wrong, we call the right trade, meet them at the house, and verify the repair.
If your lake house sits empty through the winter, let's talk before the first cold front.
