Hard Freeze Coming? How to Protect Your Pipes in Odessa
A strong cold front can take Odessa from mild to well below freezing in a day, often with wind. A few steps the evening before save a lot of damage.
Request a plumberKnow your weak spots
Pipes in the attic, garage, exterior walls and under manufactured homes; outdoor taps and sprinkler backflow devices; well pump houses; evaporative cooler supply lines.
The day before
Disconnect garden hoses, put insulated covers on outdoor taps, shut off and drain the evaporative cooler line, and wrap exposed pipe with foam insulation. Close the garage door.
The night of the freeze
Let taps on outside walls drip, open the cabinet doors under sinks, and keep the thermostat at a steady temperature, even at night and when you're away.
Find your shut-off now
If a pipe bursts, you need to stop the water fast. Locate the main shut-off and make sure it turns before the cold arrives.
If a pipe freezes
Open the tap and warm the pipe slowly with a hair dryer. Never use a torch or open flame, which can start a fire inside a wall.
After the thaw
Walk the house and check the attic, garage and outside for leaks before you rely on the water again. See frozen and burst pipe repair.
Wind is the hidden factor
A night at 25°F with a strong north wind can freeze pipes that would survive a calm night at 20°F. Wind pushes cold air through vents, gaps around pipes and loose skirting under manufactured homes. Block gaps with foam, close foundation vents for the night and keep skirting tight, then open vents again when the cold passes.
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