The Triangle does not have a long winter. It has a few nights that catch houses that were not ready. Pipes, uninsulated hose bibs, a vacant unit whose heat was turned down too far.
Before
We write residents, we check vacant units, we look at the places that failed last time. None of this is dramatic. All of it is cheaper than a ceiling.
During
If a night is coming that worries us, we say so. A vacant house gets a visit. A resident who is away gets a call.
After
The work is the wet place you cannot see yet. We would rather open a wall early than paint over a stain.