Overview
- National Weather Service alerts are in effect as an Arctic storm spreads freezing rain, sleet, and extreme cold, with North Texas reporting icy roads and heightened risk of power outages.
- Plumbers urge immediate pipe protection: disconnect and drain outdoor hoses and spigots, insulate exposed lines, open sink cabinets to warm vulnerable pipes, and keep select faucets running to move water.
- Experts differ on flow rates, with some advising a small steady drip and others a light stream on both hot and cold lines, and they recommend focusing on fixtures along exterior walls or far from the main valve.
- Heating specialists advise keeping thermostats at a consistent setting rather than shutting systems off, replacing furnace filters, not covering interior vents, and clearing snow and ice from exterior appliance vents.
- If pipes freeze or burst, shut off the main water supply, apply gentle heat such as a hair dryer while leaving a faucet open, avoid open flames, use generators only outdoors, install carbon monoxide detectors, and prepare for repair surges during and after the thaw.