10/13/2026
🏡 Mid-October tip: Before the first hard freeze, disconnect every garden hose and drain your outdoor spigots. A hose left connected traps water in the pipe — when it freezes, the pipe can burst *inside* your wall, and you won't know until the thaw. It's one of the most common freeze-damage finds I see on inspections. If your spigot isn't a frost-free model, add an insulated cover — a few dollars at any hardware store. Five minutes now beats a plumber's bill in January. 🏠