Grab your blankets and games, and prepare to bunker down! Here are some tips from the Texas Department of Insurance on prepping for a freeze.

Know your coverages

Burst pipes: Does your home or renters policy cover sudden and accidental water damage? This coverage pays for damage from burst pipes. Flood insurance doesn’t pay for damage caused by burst pipes. Home and renters policies might not pay for damages caused by frozen pipes if you didn’t take steps to protect your pipes, such as keeping the heather on in your house.

Food spoilage

If the food in your refrigerator spoiled because of a power failure caused by something your policy covers, your policy should pay up to $500 to replace your food. And often, there’s no deductible. Take pictures and keep a list of spoiled food.

Protect your pipes

• Open cabinets under your sinks to let your house’s heat warm the pipes.
• If your pipes freeze, turn off the water at the shutoff valve. This prevents broken pipes from leaking into your house after they thaw.
• Let faucets drip from the cold and hot taps or run water through your indoor faucets – hot and cold – before you go to sleep. Follow your local government’s instructions, which may limit water usage.

Prepare days before a freeze

• Warp outdoor and indoor pipes in unheated areas (like a clothes washer in your garage.)
• Remove water hoses and wrap outdoor pipes.
• Drain and turn off your lawn sprinkler system.
• Turn off the water to your clothes washer if it’s in an unheated garage.
• Store your lawn equipment in a garage or shed to keep them in good condition for next year. Drain the gas.
• If you leave your house before a freeze, turn off the water at the shutoff valve and leave your heat on.