Palm Bay doesn't have harsh winters — but it does have cold snaps, and Florida homes are built for warmth, not cold. When temperatures drop into the 30s for a night or two (which happens most winters in Brevard County), homes that haven't been winterized show their vulnerabilities: outdoor plumbing that freezes, gaps under doors that let cold air flood in, HVAC systems running in heat mode for the first time in months, and roof seals that haven't been checked since last winter's brief cold spell. A systematic fall walkthrough prevents all of it.
Plumbing: The Priority Item
Protect outdoor hose bibs. Hose bibs (the outdoor faucet connections) are the most common freeze point in Florida homes. Before cold weather arrives, disconnect any garden hoses — a connected hose traps water in the bib and prevents it from draining, almost guaranteeing a freeze. For bibs that aren't frost-proof models, foam insulating covers (available at any hardware store) provide basic protection for brief cold snaps. If you have a frost-proof hose bib, it has an extended stem that shuts off water well inside the wall — still disconnect the hose.
Know where your main shutoff is. Before the first cold snap of the year, confirm your main water shutoff works. If a pipe bursts during a freeze, you need to shut the water off immediately — not spend 20 minutes figuring out where the valve is while water pours through your ceiling.
Pipes in unconditioned spaces: Attic supply lines in Florida homes are at real risk during hard freezes because attics are not insulated for cold — they're insulated against heat. If you have supply lines running through the attic, consider having them insulated or rerouted before a freeze event, not during one.
HVAC: Test Heat Mode Before You Need It
Many Palm Bay homeowners haven't run their heat pump or furnace in heat mode since the previous winter — and they find out it doesn't work the first cold night of the season. Test your heating system well before cold weather arrives. Turn the thermostat to heat mode and set it 5 degrees above room temperature. Confirm warm air comes out of the supply vents within a few minutes.
If the system blows cold or doesn't respond, common causes include a tripped circuit breaker (heat pumps have a second breaker for the auxiliary heating strips), a failed reversing valve in the heat pump, or a dirty filter restricting airflow. Change the filter if it hasn't been done recently — a clogged filter in heating mode trips the high-limit safety switch and shuts the system off.
Weatherstripping and Door Seals
Florida homes often have weatherstripping that was adequate when installed but has compressed and cracked over years of use. During cold snaps, the gaps around doors and windows become the primary path for cold air infiltration — and for warm conditioned air to escape. Run your hand around the perimeter of every exterior door on a cold, windy day. If you feel air movement, the weatherstripping needs replacing.
Door bottom sweeps deserve particular attention — the gap under an exterior door is often the largest single air leak in the house. A $15 door sweep installed correctly eliminates most of it.
Windows and Glass Doors
Older single-pane windows in Palm Bay homes are significant sources of heat loss during cold snaps. While replacement windows are the long-term solution, rope caulk applied to the interior perimeter of the window frame is a temporary winterizing measure that reduces drafts without damaging anything and peels off cleanly in spring.
Sliding glass doors — nearly universal in Palm Bay homes — lose significant heat through the glass panel and through gaps in the track seal. Verify the door's bottom seal is intact and replace it if it's torn or compressed. A draft snake or door draft stopper at the base provides additional protection on cold nights.
Irrigation Systems
Florida irrigation systems generally don't need the full winterization process that northern systems do, but a hard freeze can damage backflow preventers and zone valves that are exposed above ground. Wrap exposed backflow preventers with insulation or old towels when temperatures below 30°F are forecast. Shut the irrigation system off entirely during freeze events — watering in freezing temperatures creates ice on plants and walkways, which causes more problems than the freeze itself.
Pre-Winter Maintenance Checklist
- ☐ Disconnect garden hoses from all outdoor bibs
- ☐ Install foam covers on non-frost-proof hose bibs
- ☐ Test heat mode on HVAC — confirm warm air output
- ☐ Replace HVAC filter
- ☐ Inspect and replace weatherstripping on all exterior doors
- ☐ Check and replace door bottom sweeps as needed
- ☐ Inspect sliding door track seals
- ☐ Check window caulking for gaps and cracks
- ☐ Locate and test main water shutoff valve
- ☐ Wrap exposed irrigation backflow preventers
- ☐ Clean gutters before winter rain season
For help with weatherstripping, door seals, weatherproofing, or any winterization repairs in Palm Bay, call (877) 916-5930 or visit our weatherproofing service page.