When the Weather Turns Cold: Hidden Plumbing Issues Houston Homes Reveal in November

November in Houston doesn’t bring snow, but it brings something plumbers recognize right away—a change in how the pipes sound. The water runs colder, the metal contracts, and that’s when the quiet problems start talking.

You might hear it first—a low groan in a pipe that used to stay quiet, or a drain that burps after the dishwasher runs. Maybe you feel a strange warm spot on the floor, or catch that faint musty whiff under the sink. That’s your plumbing clearing its throat, trying to get your attention before the holidays hit full swing.

Every gurgle tells a story—and none of them say ‘ignore me.’

It’s not dramatic. Most of these things start small. A bit of sediment rattling in the water heater. A faucet outside that didn’t get its freeze cover last year. A drain that’s been slowing down all summer and finally decides it’s had enough. The changes in temperature and pressure just nudge everything along until it shows itself.

I’ve crawled under enough homes to know the pattern. This is the time of year when people start noticing puddles that don’t belong, or wonder why the water heater suddenly sounds like a coffee percolator. It’s the season of little discoveries—and catching them early is what keeps the “little” part true.

So when you walk through your house and something seems off—a sound, a smell, a slow drain—don’t ignore it. Houston doesn’t have harsh winters, but it has just enough chill to test what summer left behind. A few minutes of paying attention now saves a weekend of mopping later.

Because when the water turns cold, plumbing tells the truth. You just have to listen.