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Started By
Message
2025 Cold snap protection plans
Posted on 12/30/24 at 11:27 pm
Posted on 12/30/24 at 11:27 pm
Big cold snap predicted for early to mid January.
Lets list some of the good ideas to protect pipes, plants, and pets, etc.
I'm fortunate to have interior valves to shut off my outside faucets. Kudos to the plumber that added those.
Still gonna put the styrofoam faucet protectors on them as a bonus. Hopefully the dogs won't chew them off.
Will add layers of mulch, especially to some newly planted crape myrtles and sasanquas. Will cover some tea olives and other plants with some canvas like covers purchased online.
And of course will keep the dogs indoors as always. But, we have an extra foster dog that has bordatella that we are having to isolate in our unheated garage. Probably will set up a dog house inside and heat up some blankets throughout the day and night for him.
Please feel free to add other suggestions....
Lets list some of the good ideas to protect pipes, plants, and pets, etc.
I'm fortunate to have interior valves to shut off my outside faucets. Kudos to the plumber that added those.
Still gonna put the styrofoam faucet protectors on them as a bonus. Hopefully the dogs won't chew them off.
Will add layers of mulch, especially to some newly planted crape myrtles and sasanquas. Will cover some tea olives and other plants with some canvas like covers purchased online.
And of course will keep the dogs indoors as always. But, we have an extra foster dog that has bordatella that we are having to isolate in our unheated garage. Probably will set up a dog house inside and heat up some blankets throughout the day and night for him.
Please feel free to add other suggestions....
9
Posted on 12/31/24 at 12:00 am to East Coast Band
Just get a cheap heat lamp form Lowes for the outside dog…be sure it has an incandescent buld and it will keep him toasty warm
ETA: I believe mine is a clip on work light by Utilitek. Cost about $15
ETA: I believe mine is a clip on work light by Utilitek. Cost about $15
This post was edited on 12/31/24 at 12:06 am
Posted on 12/31/24 at 12:39 am to East Coast Band
ima give it about 5 more days to see if I need to start frettin'. mid-20's I'll cover some winter greens in garden. mid-teens I'll tell the garden to get fricked and focus on pipes.
Posted on 12/31/24 at 10:00 am to East Coast Band
quote:
styrofoam faucet protectors
Is this the best way to protect pipes? Also-running faucets inside? Usually just run the ones that face the exterior. I’m in South Louisiana, home is on a slab. I’m widowed & this is my first winter without him.
Aside from the obvious grief, homeowner issues have been among my greatest challenges. He always just wrapped the pipes with towels, but neighbors have suggested styrofoam. 
Posted on 12/31/24 at 10:10 am to East Coast Band
quote:
Satsuma and Kumquat trees usually do not need protection until the temperature drops below 20 degrees F
Currently, my lowest temp forecast is 22* on the 10th/11th. I may cover my poor little tree just to be safe. It's already lost its top in a previous freeze.
Posted on 12/31/24 at 10:38 am to AlxTgr
quote:
do not need protection until the temperature drops below 20 degrees F
I've not found this to be terribly accurate. It might be true if they've been "cold hardened" but we've had a lot of warm weather lately and they may not be ready for really cold temps. Certainly the fruit itself isn't cold hardy but I'm sure most know that.
I put a lot of work into my citrus and don't take many chances with them. I'll cover for 27 and put lights on for anything below 25.
Posted on 12/31/24 at 11:10 am to East Coast Band
quote:
And of course will keep the dogs indoors as always. But, we have an extra foster dog that has bordatella that we are having to isolate in our unheated garage. Probably will set up a dog house inside and heat up some blankets throughout the day and night for him.
I've started grabbing 1/4 gallon paint cans from Home Depot, and some pipe insulators. Open the pipe insulators flat and wrap them around the interior of the paint can to the point you can just push the paint can around the hose bib and the insulators hold the can in place. Dogs won't chew on the metal can and the pipe insulators are. . . insulating.
I tried everything to keep my dogs from chewing the styro insulators, including putting hot sauce or other normal deterrents on the styro and they're just determined to chew the damn things off.
Posted on 12/31/24 at 12:44 pm to Tiger in the Sticks
quote:
Is this the best way to protect pipes?
Not really, especially when it gets really cold for several days in a row. If your hose bibs don't leak, I would install freeze misers instead of the stryrofoam covers, they basically drip the exterior faucets once it gets cold enough.
quote:
Usually just run the ones that face the exterior
That's all I do, my kitchen faucet and washing machine connections are the only inside plumbing I have to worry about. When we had that single-digit freeze last year I just dripped the kitchen faucet and had a space heater aimed at the wall behind the washer.
Posted on 12/31/24 at 2:23 pm to East Coast Band
Since your spigots are covered, you just need to open the cabinets under each sink that faces an exterior wall. That’s it.
ETA: your pool should have freeze protect mode that keeps all pipes circulating. Don’t leave it in service or anything where that won’t work.
ETA: your pool should have freeze protect mode that keeps all pipes circulating. Don’t leave it in service or anything where that won’t work.
This post was edited on 12/31/24 at 2:24 pm
Posted on 12/31/24 at 2:45 pm to Tiger in the Sticks
quote:
Clames
Thank you!
Posted on 12/31/24 at 5:54 pm to Tiger in the Sticks
quote:
run the ones that face the exterior
quote:
wrapped the pipes with towels
This is all my parents and now I have ever done in S LA
Posted on 12/31/24 at 7:19 pm to East Coast Band
Get pipe heat tape for any exposed pipes.
Best purchase for cold snaps you can make.
Best purchase for cold snaps you can make.
Posted on 12/31/24 at 7:34 pm to Dallaswho
quote:What about pex lines in the attic that aren’t under the insulation?
Since your spigots are covered, you just need to open the cabinets under each sink that faces an exterior wall. That’s it.
Our attic also includes about a 30’x20’ space above our covered back patio. That patio ceiling, wood planks, isn’t insulated since it’s not a conditioned living space. The attic seems to get really cold because of that
I’m in the middle of adding foam insulation around all my exposed attic pex lines just to be safe.
Posted on 12/31/24 at 8:53 pm to Tiger in the Sticks
If your dishwasher and or washing machine have delayed cycles have them run a cycle at alternating times in the middle of the night
Posted on 12/31/24 at 10:36 pm to Dallaswho
Dallaswho has the right answer. The PEX in the attic is an interesting conundrum. I have a similar issue and I am thinking about a using the same pipe insulation as I did for the copper lines. I am getting a welder's blanket to cover the outdoor water softener. Don't forget to blow down your irrigation system and cover the backflow preventer.
Posted on 1/1/25 at 9:47 pm to tide06
quote:
Get pipe heat tape for any exposed pipes.
100% this. Then you don't have to worry about enough insulation or not and sweat it out.
In the industry it's referred to as " electric heat tracing" and is very simple - a thermostat switches power to the cable. When it gets below a certain threshold it turns on and heats the cable. Then once it's hot enough it turns off. Very simple setup for freeze protection.
Pipe Heating Cable
Posted on 1/2/25 at 10:11 pm to East Coast Band
Not sure how effective but my dad always suggested that if the freeze isn’t prolonged that flushing your toilets a couple of times during the night helps keep the water moving through the system. Long freezes require more attention.
Also, running your heater higher than normal heats your slab stay warmer. Makes sense.
Question: When they say let your faucets drip, do they mean actually “dripping” or a small steady stream?
I’m in BR.
Also, running your heater higher than normal heats your slab stay warmer. Makes sense.
Question: When they say let your faucets drip, do they mean actually “dripping” or a small steady stream?
I’m in BR.
Posted on 1/3/25 at 7:19 am to MDB
quote:
When they say let your faucets drip, do they mean actually “dripping” or a small steady stream?
Steady small stream. If you only drip, a lot of times the temperature of the faucet will change and the drip will stop after a while.
Posted on 1/3/25 at 8:29 am to FieldEngineer
quote:
Steady small stream. If you only drip, a lot of times the temperature of the faucet will change and the drip will stop after a while.
Correct.
And a friendly reminder, run the hot as well. Couldn't tell you how many times we were repairing hot water lines over cold water lines due to the home owner not running the hot like they had the cold.
Posted on 1/3/25 at 11:08 am to East Coast Band
Same as always
Block in and blow out the shop water. Alcohol in the P traps.
All faucets dripping inside and outside of the house, hot and cold where applicable. Wake up at 2 or 3 am to run the washing machine.
Block in and blow out the shop water. Alcohol in the P traps.
All faucets dripping inside and outside of the house, hot and cold where applicable. Wake up at 2 or 3 am to run the washing machine.
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