With so many people I know having had problems last week, and seeing plumbing trucks all over Steiner this week, I asked Mark Franz of Armadillo Roofing & Exteriors (General Contractor) for some tips to help prevent damage should we have another freeze this week.
Here are a few tips which may circumvent this type of disaster:
1. Set your Heating System to at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit, especially if you are not staying at your Home.
2. Open the cabinet doors to any plumbing areas such as your kitchen sink and bathrooms located on outside walls.
3. Cover your outdoor faucets/spigots with the Styrofoam covers that are sold at Home Depots and Lowe’s. They only cost $1 plus tax. (If you find yourself without the covers and the stores have closed, wrapping these faucets/spigots with a small, thick cotton towel, and securing it with a string or duct tape works fairly well too).
4. When the temperature is forecasted to drop below 25 degrees Fahrenheit, open your interior faucets to drip at a rate of at least 20 drops per minute and let them drip until temperatures rise above freezing. This includes all sinks, bath tubs, shower, wet bar faucets and the like. (Your water bill won’t feel a thing.)
5. Should you experience a pipe that bursts,be prepared to know exactly how to shut off the water service to your property. This is usually located near the street under a utility (City of Austin) meter cover. Before the event be sure you have the proper tool or shutoff key. (These are sold at Home Depots and Lowe’s.)
Taking these steps and being prepared could save you the heart ache of costly repairs, the inconvenience of being displaced, and if you file a Homeowner’s Insurance Claim with your Insurer, it is likely that it will result in the increase in your premiums the following year.
