Prepare For The Winter Storm Headed Your Way!

Winter storms bring a unique set of challenges for homeowners in Lake Charles, and while South Louisiana doesn’t experience freezing temperatures as often as northern states, when a cold front does arrive, it can hit fast and hard. The region’s plumbing systems, heating equipment, and homes are often less insulated than those in colder climates, making them especially vulnerable when temperatures drop below freezing. To protect your home’s plumbing, heating, and overall safety, Ace Cooling, Heating, Plumbing & Electrical recommends the following preparation steps before the next winter storm hits.

1. Insulate Your Pipes Before the Cold Arrives

The most important step you can take to protect your plumbing is to insulate any pipes that run through unheated spaces—attics, crawl spaces, exterior walls, and garages. In Lake Charles, these areas are rarely insulated to withstand sustained freezing temperatures, and pipes can freeze surprisingly quickly when the mercury drops. Use closed-cell foam pipe insulation and seal the ends with tape or caulk to keep warm air in. Pay special attention to hose bibs on the exterior of your home—these should be covered with insulated faucet covers available at any hardware store. If a pipe does freeze, never use an open flame to thaw it. Use a hair dryer on low heat, working from the faucet end toward the frozen area.

2. Keep Cabinet Doors Open to Circulate Warm Air

During extreme cold, open the cabinet doors beneath kitchen and bathroom sinks, especially on exterior walls. This allows the warm air inside your home to circulate around the pipes and helps prevent them from freezing. It’s a simple, no-cost step that can make a real difference when overnight temperatures drop into the mid-20s. If your home has older copper or galvanized pipes that haven’t been updated in decades, this precaution is especially important—older pipe materials can be more brittle and prone to cracking.

3. Let Your Faucets Drip Overnight

Allowing your faucets to drip slightly during extreme cold weather keeps water moving through the pipes. Moving water is much harder to freeze than stagnant water. This applies to both hot and cold water supply lines—let both drip at a slow, steady pace. Focus on faucets connected to pipes that run along exterior walls or through unheated areas. Yes, it uses a small amount of water, but it’s far less costly than dealing with a burst pipe and the resulting water damage.

4. Keep Your Thermostat Consistent

It can be tempting to turn down the thermostat at night to save on your heating bill, but during a winter storm, a consistent indoor temperature is critical for protecting your pipes. Keep your thermostat set to at least 55°F even when you’re away or sleeping—enough to keep pipe temperatures above the freezing threshold in the walls and floors. If your heating system is struggling to maintain that temperature, it may be a sign that your heating services need attention before the coldest night of the year. An unexpected heating failure during a freeze is not just uncomfortable—it can lead to burst pipes, water damage, and a much larger repair bill.

5. Know Where Your Main Water Shutoff Valve Is Located

Knowing where your main water shutoff valve is located—and how to turn it off quickly—can be the difference between a manageable inconvenience and a flooded home. If a pipe bursts during a winter storm, shutting off the water immediately prevents hundreds or thousands of gallons from flooding your floors and walls. Make sure every adult in the household knows where the valve is and has practiced turning it. In Lake Charles, the shutoff valve is typically located near the water meter outside or near the water heater inside.

6. Have Your Heating System Inspected Before Winter

South Louisiana furnaces and heat pumps often sit dormant for eight or nine months of the year. When a winter storm arrives and you flip the switch to “heat” for the first time, a system that hasn’t been inspected may fail, overheat, or—in the case of gas furnaces—emit dangerous combustion gases through a cracked heat exchanger. Scheduling a professional heating tune up before winter arrives is the best way to ensure your system is safe, clean, and ready to perform when it matters most. Preventive heating services are significantly less expensive than emergency repairs during a freeze event.

7. Protect Outdoor Faucets and HVAC Equipment

Disconnect garden hoses from outdoor spigots and shut off any irrigation systems before a freeze. Standing water in hoses can back-freeze into the pipe and cause a crack at the wall fitting. For your outdoor HVAC condenser unit, clear any debris, leaves, or ice buildup from around the unit after a storm—but never cover the unit entirely with plastic, as this can trap moisture and cause corrosion. If your heat pump’s outdoor unit is covered in ice during a freeze, that may indicate a defrost cycle issue that needs professional attention.

Stay Prepared All Winter Long

Don’t forget to bring in sensitive outdoor plants or cover them during frost, and keep pets warm and safely indoors during cold snaps. By taking these steps before a winter storm rolls in, you can protect your home’s plumbing, keep your heating system reliable, and avoid the kind of emergency calls that spike during every Louisiana cold front. If you have any questions about your home’s readiness for winter weather, contact Ace Cooling, Heating, Plumbing & Electrical—your Lake Charles neighbors for plumbing and heating services since 1994.