How to Prepare For Freezing Temperatures in Houston, TX

It sure is chilly out there! We hope everyone is staying warm & safe. As freezing temperatures are anticipated until Wednesday, January 17th, ensuring your home is safeguarded and your family is protected is crucial. Take the necessary precautions to prevent any damage during this Arctic front.

Click2Houston shared some tips to follow to make sure you are winter-ready:

What You Can Do to Protect Your Home

• Remove hoses from exterior faucets.
• Repair or replace weather stripping around windows and doors, vents and fans, plumbing, air conditioners and electrical and gas lines.
• Use caulk or insulation to seal all cracks, holes and other openings on exterior walls.
• Let faucets drip a little bit to prevent freezing pipes.
• Well-insulated basements and crawl spaces will help protect pipes. Close foundation vents and windows to basements. Wrap vulnerable pipes with pipe insulation.
• Know where your water shutoff valve is so that you can turn off the water in case of an emergency.
• The air inside the walls, where pipes are, can be much colder than air in the room, so set the thermostat at a reasonable temperature, even if you will be away from home.
• Keep bathroom and kitchen cabinet doors open to let warm air circulate around the pipes.
• Close your wood-burning fireplace flue damper when you’re not using it. Follow all manufacturer instructions for gas fireplaces including those with pilot lights, which may require the flue to be partially open at all times.

What You Can Do to Keep Your Furry Friends Safe

• Keep pets indoors, especially at night, since there is no sun to keep them warm. If your pet is in the garage, make sure to give them a blanket and keep them away from any drifts.
• Provide plenty of food and water for your outdoor pets. They need to consume between 25 to 50% more calories than usual because the cold tends to deplete energy. Remember that your pet’s tongues can stick to metal bowl and make sure the water is not frozen.
• If it’s wet outside, dry your pets after a walk or time outside. If they are wet, they are more prone to getting sick.
• Designate an area inside where your pet can use potty pads since it can be challenging for pets to go outside in the cold. This is especially pertinent to puppies or senior dogs as they may have more difficulty.
• While not all pets need sweaters, it can help some animals, particularly small, short-haired breeds, stay warm.
• Do not leave your pets inside your cars. This is a given on hot days, but many people forget that your car on a cold day can quickly drop in temperature and become an icebox.
• Keep cats indoors during the winter as they may take shelter inside the hood of your vehicle to stay warm, which could result in injury or death. If you live in an area with strays or other outdoor cars, bang on the hood of your car before starting it to give the cat a chance to get out.
• Be sure to use pet-friendly antifreeze. Pets can be attracted to the sweet smell and taste of antifreeze, and consumption can be lethal.

Live road conditions can be found at drivetexas.org.