As temperatures in Houston drop into the 30s, homeowners are urged to take precautions to prevent frozen pipes and power outages.
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Starting late Sunday night, overnight temperatures will drop below freezing in the Houston area. This will happen every night this week. CenterPoint Energy, Houston's main electricity provider, has already started getting ready for winter weather and is pushing other people to do the same to protect their homes and utilities.
Joe Bany, who is in charge of operations at John Moore Services, says that protecting wires that are outside and open is very important. "You can buy sleeves and covers to protect outdoor pipes," Bany said. Insulation covers and hose bibs are cheap ways to keep lines from freezing and avoid having to pay thousands of dollars to fix them.
Dripping indoor taps are another important step. Bany said, "Keeping water moving through pipes lowers the chance of freezing." If you are going to be away during the freeze, you might want to turn off your water supply and drain your pipes to avoid expensive harm.
Checking the insulation in attics or around pipes can protect homes from repeated high temperatures over a long period of time. Bany used the 2021 winter freeze, which damaged a lot of property in Houston, to show how much it costs to not be ready. "Seventy or seventeen pipes would often burst in the attics of homes," he said.
CenterPoint Energy is also telling people to get ready for power outages, since freezing weather has already left thousands of people without power.
To keep your home safe and avoid expensive repairs, experts say to do things like insulate pipes, fix taps that drip, and make sure your plumbing system is ready for winter.
