Winter Cold – preparing your home!

A brutally cold blast is pushing into Texas late this week, bringing dangerously cold air and some of the lowest wind chill temperatures we’ve seen since February 2021. The cold front will arrive on Thursday, bringing the season’s coldest temperatures. Temperatures will plummet on Thursday. Afternoon temperatures will only be in the 20s across North Texas. Please prepare your home, vehicles, and pets for this extreme temperature event.

Winter storms: Tips for preparing your home.

Prepare days before a freeze

• Wrap outdoor and indoor pipes in unheated areas (like a clothes washer in your garage).
• Drain indoor house fire sprinklers.
• Remove water hoses and wrap outdoor pipes.
• Drain and turn off your lawn sprinkler system.
• Turn off the water to your clothes washer if it’s in an unheated garage.
• Store your lawn equipment in a garage or shed to keep them in good condition for next year. Drain the gas.
• If you leave your house before a freeze, turn off the water at the shutoff valve and leave your heat on.

Protect your pipes when it freezes

• Open cabinets under sinks to let your house’s heat warm the pipes.
• If your pipes freeze, turn off the water at the shutoff valve. This prevents broken pipes from leaking into your house after they thaw.
• Let faucets drip from the cold and hot taps or run water through your indoor faucets – hot and cold — before you go to sleep. Follow your local government’s instructions, which may limit water usage.

If you’re planning on leaving town, please remember the 4 “Ps” of a hard freeze preparation:

PEOPLE: Make sure those you love have a warm place to stay. If you have to be outdoors, dress in layers.

PLANTS: Bring in any potted plants if possible. Water Wednesday so that the soil is insulated and cover your outdoor plants if possible.

PETS: Bring all pets inside.

PIPES: Cover any exposed pipes and spigots. Allow water to drip from faucets that are facing exterior walls. Drain and turn OFF your sprinkler system. Open cabinet doors open, as this keeps air circulating around your plumbing. Try to keep your thermostat in the low-60s if you’re leaving town.