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With the forecast indicating freezing weather approaching later this week (with a potential windchill below 0!) we can’t help but be reminded of Snowmageddon Austin 2021. We want to revisit a few freezing weather tips ahead of the cold to ensure that you and your home are safe and sound!
Most Texans know to insulate their outdoor faucets, but if the cold snap is prolonged it could be a good idea to also leave inside faucets on external walls dripping overnight so that they don’t freeze. The drip, drip, drip from running faucets, if heard, can be annoying, so put a sponge or towel in the sink to silently catch each drop. If you’re leaving town for a few days, the Texas Department of Public Safety recommends leaving cabinet doors open so that pipes on external walls are more exposed to heat. If you have pipes in an attic or crawlspace, are any other exposed pipes outdoors, they’ll need insulation too.
About those external faucets, disconnect hoses and insulate the valves. Wrapping valves with towels is not the best long-term solution. Most if not all Texas hardware stores sell inexpensive exterior faucet covers made of foam that easily attach to the faucet bib in just a few seconds and do a great job protecting the pipe from freezing.
If you do suspect a pipe has frozen, keep the faucet open so that water can flow when it melts. Additionally, make sure you know where your main water valve is located (and how to turn it off) in the event a pipe bursts.
Locate Your Water Shutoff
Locate the water main shutoff valve and keep it clear of debris and obstacles at all times. Per Austin Water, “This is important if you experience a leak inside your property. For most homes, there is a property owner’s shutoff valve that is on your side of the water meter near the City of Austin meter box. For renters, please consult with your property manager.
If you cannot find your shutoff valve or if it is damaged, then you should be prepared to access the City shutoff valve in the meter box. You may need a water meter key to open the meter box, which can be purchased at most hardware stores. If you have one of the newer My ATX Water smart meters, the City of Austin Water meter lid will likely need one of these keys to be opened.”
Here’s a handy worksheet from Austin Water on Winter Weather Preparedness tips and a video on locating your water shutoff.
Even if you have a pet or animal that normally lives or sleeps outdoors, they could be susceptible to cold, hypothermia and pneumonia. The SPCA of Texas says if you’d be cold outside, odds are your pet is cold too. Bring pets inside and make sure other outdoor animals have appropriate shelter, dry and well insulated, to protect them from frigid temperatures and possible death.
Horticulturalist Daniel Cunningham with Texas A&M Agrilife recommends bringing inside any perennial potted plants. Plants that cannot be brought inside will need to be covered.
In the interview at the top of the page, Cunningham shows several products that can be used to help protect delicate plants. Read more on how to plant for the winter from Agrilife’s Water University, here.
For plants left outside, a day or two before a freeze hits, the Dallas Arborteum recommends watering the soil only by hand only, keeping the foliage dry, to insulate the plant’s roots.
The arboretum also recommends using frost cloth (image below) to trap heat instead of plastic sheeting — which doesn’t prevent condensation.
You want to turn off your irrigation system for a number of reasons. One is that you don’t want it running on it’s normal schedule, potentially throwing water on streets where it can freeze and be dangerous for passing cars. Second, you don’t want to risk any broken pipes or valves that may come with a system that has not been winterized. To winterize your system, the city of Fort Worth recommends timers and back-flow devices both be turned off, even if you have freeze or rain sensors installed, and that the main line be drained. Any pipes that are above the ground should also be insulated.
Many air filters should be changed or cleaned every three months, or every season. But that’s not the only winterizing needed for your HVAC system. You should have your duct work checked regularly for holes (whether from vibration or rodents) to make sure the air flow is uninterrupted. If part of your HVAC is in the attic, it may also be home to rats, mice and squirrels who find the warmth of the unit an ideal spot to build a nest.
Even if you have a freeze protector among your pool equipment, you’ll want to look at the pump every day to make sure it’s moving water through your pipes. Those pipes, too, can burst if they freeze.
It’s always a good idea to on hand a supply of fresh batteries in the event they’re needed for flashlights during a power outage. If you didn’t replace the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors during daylight saving time — now is a good time to make the switch.
Having the following supplies on hand will help you be prepared & avoid busy stores when the first winter storm of the season approaches:
– Water meter key – to access your meter box
– Insulation for indoor and outdoor pipes and hot water heaters
– Hose bib covers for outdoor faucets
– Battery powered radio and flashlight
– One gallon of water per person (and pet!) per day for seven days
Download the Ready Central Texas mobile app to learn more about how to be emergency prepared and safety aware.
Sign up for Emergency Alerts at WarnCentralTexas.org
Bookmark https://austinenergy.com/outages
Bookmark austinwater.org
Make note: Austin Energy’s Outage Number is 512-322-9100; Austin Water’s 24-Hour Emergency Hotline can be reached at 512-972-1000, Option 1
Before the cold, replace worn weather-stripping on doors and windows to ensure there is a good seal. This will make sure warm air stays inside and cold air stays outside. Most modern windows are sealed inside the frame, but older windows may be sealed with a glaze that can crack and need replacing. The glaze may need to be applied above a certain temperature and it’ll need time to cure — this maintenance is ideally done in the spring or fall. Lastly check your gutters to make sure they are clear and allow for water to flow freely to the downspout. Blocked gutters can lead to water entering the home. The Texas Department of Insurance also recommends trimming trees away from power lines, homes and cars and checking the insulation level in attics.
Douglas Elliman
100 Congress Avenue
Suite 1445
Austin, TX 78701
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