01/08/2025
As I keep getting calls from clients that have not taken any precautions, just wanted to throw out a few to all of our friends and clients in the DFW area.
1. Cover your exterior faucets. If you can get encapsulation insulated covers that cover the entire hose bib, get them. Lowes and HD should have them. They trap warmer air coming off the house structure. The insulating socks are better than nothing if you can't find them
2. Take off and drain any hoses still attached.
3. Drip faucets on INSIDE of house- especially ones on the exterior walls. When possible drip hot and cold. The hot in the pipes can keep the area around the pipes warm and since hot and cold pipes are usually run together, can help keep the cold line from freezing along with the hot. Remember, the water in the hot lines are cold until they are run so they can freeze.
4. Open cabinet doors to any plumbing on any exterior walls. You can do this for all of them if you want but at the temps we are seeing you probably don't need to for plumbing on interior walls.....but it can't hurt.
5. If you can, check your fireplace for emergency heating option. May have a battery backup (2 x D cell) in the cavity at the bottom of the fireplace. This allows your fireplace to run even if the power is out. If you have straight gas or wood burning that you have to light manually, you will not have this option nor do you need it.
6. You can crack your attic ceiling doors to allow some heat to rise up into the attic from the house.
7. If you have a pool, your freeze protection should be running all pumps at this time. Actual setting may vary from setup to setup but usually it is set to come on around 36 degrees. If it is 30 outside and your equipment isn't running, call someone.
8. If possible, cover your pool equipment with a tarp/moving blankets. I do both. I also have low temp heating wire that I leave on the equipment year round and plug in in times like this. Put some of those left over bricks you have on the side of your house around the tarp to keep it down when windy. NEVER run your hot tub or pool heater when equipment is covered.
9. It is doubtful that your garage will get down below freezing but if your concerned and have a water filter/softener in your garage, keep door to house open during peak cold periods or get some area heater(s) on in garage. Be careful around any flammable materials. Image below is a very affordable wall mounted option that is easy to setup and install . Even comes with a template with built in level to install 2 screws to hold it on wall. Wifi enabled and has a thermostat.
10. Keep a windshield scrapper in your car. Don't ever throw warm or hot water on windshield to try to get snow and ice off. Can crack your windshield. You can also try putting large trash bag or moving blanket over your windshield and then typically you can just remove it when your ready to drive.
11. If you have a portable generator, test it out before you need it. Especially ones with electric start-they don't start if battery is dead.
Probably not telling you anything you don't already know but if it helps just one reader, worth my time!!
Be safe out there.
Nick
