Cold Weather Tips for Your Home
As the temperature drops, there are several homeowner safety precautions you can take, to ensure your home does not sustain long-term damage.
Before Freezing Weather:
Wrap all exposed pipes located outside or in unheated areas of the home.
Remove garden hoses from outside faucets.
Insulate outside faucets with Styrofoam cover, rags or paper.
Cover vents around the foundation of your home.
Know where your property owner’s cut-off valve is located and how to use it.
Cover outdoor plants and bring smaller planters inside.
During Sub-Freezing Weather:
Drip outside faucets 24 hours a day (5 drops per minute) if temperatures are expected to be 28 degrees or below for at least 4 hours.
Open cabinet doors under sinks adjacent to outside walls.
In unheated garages, shut off water to washing machines. Water softeners should be drained and protected from freezing temperatures.
In sustained sub-freezing weather, let water drip slowly from inside faucets.
Take extra precautions to protect pipes that have frozen in the past.
If You Won't Be Home:
Shut water off at the property owner’s cut-off valve.
Drain all outside water faucets if your house will be unoccupied for several days (leave outside faucets open).
Or, leave home heating system on at a low setting.
Open cabinet doors under sinks adjacent to outside walls.
If a water line breaks and the cut off valve does not work, or if you are unable to locate or operate the valve, Austin Water is available to turn off the water.
Austin Water Utility’s 24-Hour Emergency Hotline: 512-972-1000