02/13/2021
Good info below:
TEXANS! I just got off the phone with my plumber, getting advice on how to deal with this extreme freeze. Read on, please: THE PROTOCOL IS DIFFERENT WHEN IT GETS TO SINGLE DIGIT TEMPS.
1. We are past dripping faucets: you need to let **both hot and cold** RUN IN A STREAM, on ALL interior faucets on exterior walls. Dripping will not cut it! If your home is NOT built on a slab foundation, you need to do this on ALL interior faucets. Leave cabinet doors open so that warm air can get inside. He emphasized RUNNING IN A STREAM multiple times. If you have a tankless water heater, streaming that water is especially important.
2. On exterior hose bibs: fold a towel long ways, wrap *loosely* around hose bib, duct tape, then wrap a garbage bag around that, add more duct tape. You want some air inside to keep it warmer, hence the not wrapping as hard as you can.
3. If your washer and dryer is on an exterior wall in your garage or other unconditioned area, this is a point of danger. A clamp on heat lamp directed at the valves is a good idea. Be careful that it doesn’t touch anything!
4. If your home is VACANT, he said to strongly consider draining the water lines to the house. Please ask your own plumber for specific advice on this, but the way he explained it to me was this: turn off the water at the curb, then open all faucets to drain. Turn water heater to “vac low” (vacation low) so that it doesn’t turn on. Then LEAVE the taps and cabinets open (and re-cover your hose bibs once they’re drained).
Plumbers are NOT relishing the idea of the extra work! They would rather that you prepare, because dealing with water in near-freezing temps as they thaw is MISERABLE. **He said the last time we had a widespread freeze, some people were without water for 2 or 3 weeks**
So don’t mess around with this! Just do the prep, even if you’re renting, because rent or not, being without water sucks! Renters insurance is a very good idea, btw: if pipes do breach, then flood the house, in most cases renter’s insurance will pay for alternate housing (check with your carrier!)