by admin
The first of the freezing temperatures have descended upon Austin. Remember PLANTS, PETS and PIPES!!
Here are a few helpful tips to protect your property:
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.
• Make sure that your property owner’s water cut-off valve is accessible and operational.
In Sub-Freezing Weather
• Drip outside faucets 24 hours a day (roughly 5 drops per minute; faster if a hard freeze is expected).
• Open cabinet doors under sinks adjacent to outside walls.
• In unheated garages, shut water off to washing machines. Turn off both the hot and cold water lines and disconnect them from the back of the washer. Place both lines in the drain pipe behind the washer and drip the faucets.
• In sustained sub-freezing weather, let water drip slowly from inside faucets (steady drip).
• Take extra precautions to protect pipes that have frozen in the past.
• Businesses and homes that operate landscape sprinkler systems are urged to shut their systems off to prevent run-off water from freezing on sidewalks and road surfaces.
If You Are Not Going To Be At Home
• Cut 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 and return water flow to then gradually when you return home).
• Or, leave home heating system on at a low setting.
• Open cabinet doors under sinks adjacent to outside walls.
• Renters and tenants may be responsible for personal property damage caused by broken water pipes during severe weather conditions.
Residents should contact property management, landlord or maintenance personnel to locate the property owner’s cut-off valve and find ways to avoid pipe breakage during a freeze.
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