The Arctic freeze is coming, and even those of us in Texas will not be spared. Starting Wednesday night consider the 4 Ps — protecting people, pets, pipes and plants during the freezing temps.
Pets – Do NOT leave pets outside. Even the hardiest of outdoor dogs and cats will need warmth when the temperatures dip. If for some reason you cannot have animals in the house, consider boarding them at a pet care facility when the weather is cold.
Pipes – If pipes are not insulated you may want to drip both the cold and the hot water. During the night, when temps drop below freezing and thermostats are usually lowered, leave the door to the under the sink cabinet and plumbing area propped open. This is sometimes needed if the plumbing is in an outside wall that is not well insulated. This space will often get colder than the room during freezing temperatures. Be sure the open cabinet does not contain hazardous materials that can be accessed by children or pets.
Disconnect garden hoses outside the house or the water could freeze and break the faucet. Wrap the faucet with insulation or a cloth and cover it if it gets windy. Its probably a good time to invest in a cover for the outside faucets around your home.
The swimming pool pump should be running to prevent damage to the pump. Most pool equipment timers have sensors that will turn the pump on when temperatures reach freezing.
Plants – Winter garden plants and flowers can’t tolerate the predicted low temperatures and need to be covered or brought indoors.
White sheets are often used for cover; some gardeners put shop lights under the sheets to keep the plants from freezing. Plastic can kill plants so is not recommended as a cover. Its good to uncover plants a couple of hours after daylight and cover them again at dark. Any watering should be done before midday so plants have a chance to dry before temperatures reach freezing.
Protecting yourself, pets, plants and pipes takes a little preparation and basic common sense. Stock up on needed items and food, and stay safe and warm!
