Five simple things to check before Tulsa's first hard freeze!

#1 Check Your Crawl Space Vents

If your home sits on a crawl space, don't forget to check underneath before freezing temperatures arrive! Cold air entering beneath your home can put exposed plumbing at risk of freezing and make your floors feel extra chilly. Check your crawl space vents, insulation, and exposed pipes before the first hard freeze. If your home has seasonal vents designed to close during colder weather, make sure you're following the recommended settings for your particular crawl space system. Since ventilation needs vary by home, consult a qualified professional before permanently sealing any vents.

#2 Schedule Your Heating System Service

Oklahoma cold fronts can come quickly, and the last thing anyone wants is to discover their furnace isn't working when temperatures drop below freezing! If you haven't already, schedule a professional heating system inspection and tune-up before winter arrives. A technician can check for potential issues, clean important components, and make sure everything is operating safely and efficiently. While you're at it, check your air filters, too! Regular heating system maintenance can help prevent unexpected repairs and keep your home comfortable throughout the winter. For more tips, check out the ENERGY STAR heating and cooling maintenance checklist.

#3 Inspect Weather Stripping Around Doors & Garage

Take a quick walk around your home and check the weather stripping on exterior doors, garage doors, and any doors leading into unheated spaces. Worn or missing seals can allow cold air, moisture, and even unwanted critters to find their way inside. If you notice gaps, drafts, or cracked weather stripping, now is the perfect time to replace it! It's an inexpensive home maintenance project that can make a noticeable difference in keeping your home comfortable during Oklahoma's colder months.

#4 Disconnect All Exterior Garden Hoses

This one only takes a few minutes, but it's especially important before the first freeze! Disconnect every garden hose from your outdoor faucets, drain any remaining water, and store them away for the winter. Leaving a hose connected can trap water inside the faucet assembly, increasing the risk of frozen pipes and plumbing damage. If your home has a separate shutoff valve for outdoor water lines, follow the recommended winterization instructions for your system. It's one of the easiest ways to help protect your Tulsa home when temperatures drop!

#5 Install Protective Outdoor Faucet Covers

Once your hoses are disconnected, don't forget about the outdoor faucets themselves! Insulated faucet covers are an affordable addition to your winter home maintenance checklist and can help protect exposed faucets during freezing temperatures.

You can find outdoor faucet covers at local Tulsa hardware stores like Lowe's or The Home Depot. Remember, faucet covers are an added layer of protection, not a replacement for properly insulating and winterizing your plumbing. A little prevention now can help you avoid expensive repairs later!

A Few Extra Tips for Oklahoma's Hard Freezes

Even with your winter home maintenance checklist complete, Oklahoma weather can still surprise us! When an extended freeze is in the forecast, here are a few additional ways to help protect your home.

• Keep your heating system running and maintain a safe indoor temperature.
• Open cabinets beneath sinks along exterior walls to allow warm air to circulate around plumbing, while keeping household chemicals safely away from children and pets.
• During extreme freezes, follow local recommendations for allowing a slow trickle of water through vulnerable faucets.
• Winterize your outdoor sprinkler system according to its instructions.
• Locate your home's main water shutoff valve before an emergency happens.

For additional guidance, the City of Tulsa offers helpful tips for preventing frozen and burst water pipes during winter weather.

Winter in Oklahoma can be unpredictable, but preparing your home doesn't have to be! Save this Tulsa home winterization guide and share it with a neighbor or friend who could use a little reminder before the next cold front. A few small maintenance tasks now can go a long way toward keeping your home safe, warm, and ready for the season!

Thinking About Buying or Selling a Home in Tulsa?

As we head toward the new year, it's a great time to start thinking about your next move! Whether you're hoping to find a new home before the holidays or preparing to sell your Tulsa home in 2027, our Aussie Real Estate Team is here to help. From getting your home market-ready to finding the perfect place for your next chapter, we'd love to be part of your real estate journey.

Visit AussieTeamTulsa.com or call/text (918) 891-3818 to schedule an appointment. Let our local Tulsa real estate experts guide your next move with confidence.