​By: A 2Z Handyman Services LLC ​Part I: The Southern Delusion ​Let’s have a heart-to-heart. Down here in the South, we handle heat like champions. We can survive 100% humidity while wearing jeans and eating spicy crawfish. But the moment the local news guy puts on a puffer vest and mentions a “wintry mix,” everyone loses their collective minds. ​Half of you rush to the grocery store to buy enough milk and bread to make a million French toasts, and the other half scoffs, says “It’s fine,” and goes back to watching the game. I’m here to tell you that the “It’s fine” crowd is the reason I stay so busy at A 2Z Handyman Services LLC. ​Listen, I love making money, but I’d rather make it building you a killer deck than wading through your crawlspace at 3:00 AM because your pipes decided to impersonate a fire hose. Preparing for a storm that might not happen isn't "paranoia"—it’s called “not being a statistic.” ​Part II: The Older Home Trap (Charming, but Treacherous) ​If you live in a house built before the turn of the century (or even just before the 90s), you’ve got a "vintage" problem. These homes have "character," sure, but they also have plumbing that was designed by people who didn't think insulation was a real thing. ​Older homes are notorious for having pipes tucked into exterior walls with zero protection. They are the first to freeze. It’s like sending a toddler out into a blizzard in nothing but a diaper. If your house is older, you aren't just "at risk"—you are the primary target. ​The worst part? Preventing a $5,000 flood in an old house is actually incredibly simple and cheap. But most people wait until they hear the "CRACK" of copper or PVC giving up the ghost. By then, the only thing I can do is help you pick out new drywall while we dry out your heirlooms. ​Part III: The Holy Trinity of Not-Flooding (Heat Tape, Wrap, and Insulation) ​If you want to survive the night without a plumbing disaster, you need to get intimate with these three things. This isn't rocket science; it’s just basic survival for your house.