With record-cold temperatures expected Monday and Tuesday, Houston residents are being urged to protect pipes, sprinkler systems and outdoor faucets from the deep freeze.
“This extreme cold is our biggest risk for seeing pipes burst,” said Herschel Day with Arrow Plumbing. “Conditions are improving, but we aren’t in the clear just yet.”
After Tuesday afternoon, temperatures are expected to climb into the 40s, ending the hard freeze for the week.
Day says homeowners should check their pipes immediately and take precautions to prevent damage.
“I went around and made sure faucets were flowing, but also that water wasn’t coming out in places it shouldn’t,” he said. “I even went outside to check my outside fixtures and make sure they hadn’t broken.”
Pipes most at risk are typically those on the exterior of the home or along exterior walls.
“Faucets on the outside of the house or pipes on exterior walls are probably most at risk versus the ones inside,” Day said. He advised keeping exterior pipes wrapped and looking for unusual ice buildup, such as ice stuck to pipes where rain did not fall. “If ice is in a place that doesn’t make sense, those are the areas to check carefully.”
Sprinkler systems are particularly vulnerable, Day said. “I have mine turned off and drained down,” he said. “Not just turning the handle off, but opening the ports to let the water drain out. We can withstand a couple of days without watering the yard. Those systems break the easiest.”
He also recommends that homeowners know where their water shutoff valve is.
“More than anything, know where your water shutoff is. If something does happen and a pipe bursts, you want to be able to turn it off immediately and not waste time trying to find it in a panic,” he said.
For pipes that are frozen but not yet broken, Day says it is best to leave faucets open to relieve pressure and check the house regularly.
“Walk around every 30 minutes to an hour and make sure things are working like we expect them to. If you don’t have any flow coming out of faucets, that’s fine. It doesn’t mean the end of the world. Just keep an eye on things.”