12/22/2022
🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶** FREEZE ALERT**🥶🥶🥶🥶🥶
💨💨💨💨💨Deep freeze is comming🧊🧊🧊🧊🧊
To all of our water well customers please be advised of the potential very low temperatures coming in for the next few days. These temperatures are abnormally low for Central Texas so please take time to prepare for the deep freeze coming this weekend.
As water turns to ice, it expands. Inside closed pipes it can build up hundreds of pounds per square inch of pressure easily able to burst hoses and split pipes. Here are some tips to prevent damaged plumbing, leaks, and high water bills when the temperature drops.
Running a faucet in the home with a good 1 to 2 gpm flow will allow the well to cycle and run warm water through the plumbing system. Insulation around the pipes will then retain that heat in the plumbing system. It would not be a bad idea to crack your exterior faucets to allow them to leak a little bit till this is over. Moving water also freezes slower than stationary water. Combining these factors will help prevent frozen pipes and wells preventing out of water calls and costly repairs.
See the check list below to better help prepare you for this coming winter:
1. Unprotected water wells will freeze in these temperatures. Well coverings and heaters are strongly advised.
2. Plumbing under mobile homes and pier and beam houses will freeze as well. Plumbing in exterior walls will also be at risk.
3. Wrapping and insulating exposed fixtures and pipes is strongly advised, but be aware that insulation alone does not prevent freezing. Insulation only retains heat it does not create it.
4. Wrap undrained faucets and pipes that will be exposed to freezing temperatures with fiberglass or foam insulation. Use of plug-in electric heating wraps are also an option. Don't forget about pipes overhead in unheated attics and below the floor in crawl spaces, as well as those outdoors.
5. Replace missing trailer skirting and seal any openings where wind can blow into crawlspaces under homes.
6. Crack open the faucets on pipes exposed to freezing temperatures so that they drip. This keeps pressure from building up if some ice does form inside in the pipe.
7. Pipes underground are less likely to freeze, but can still burst if the temperature stays below freezing for several days. Consider draining or protecting them as appropriate. Also, remember to drain any hoses for the winter.
8. If a property is located within the city and/or on public system and the home is going to be unoccupied for a week or more during the winter, and especially if the heat is to be cut off, it is a good idea to have the water shut off at the meter so that any leak will not run for days undetected thus creating a large water bill.
Please be advised that we value our employees and there families. Therefore, only true emergencies will be addressed this coming weekend. We will have crews out first thing Monday to begin work on any repairs neccessary to get your water back on.
We will do our best to make ourselves available as soon as it is reasonable. Service times may be delayed due to holidays and volume. Please be patient!!
We recommend setting aside water now for drinking and flushing toilets for a few days just as a final precaution!! Better safe than sorry!!!
If you have a question on what you should do to prepare for the freeze you are welcome to call us at 830-796-3563.
