Should Texans Drip or Stream Faucets In Extreme Cold?

When the weather drops to below freezing temperatures like we're dealing with in Texas right now, we begin to think of all the precautions we need to take in order to be able to get through it.

Sure, the one thing we don't want to do is go outdoors. It's cold. If you have to go out though, you just make sure it's for very short periods of time.

Staying inside is what most tend to do, but if you want the inside of your house to remain comfortable and not end up with a barrage of problems once the freeze is over, there are certain things you need to do.

They say to keep your thermostat above 60 degrees, which really isn't an issue when it's five degrees outside. I mean, you're trying to stay warm. However, that is more than just staying warm. It's to help keep your pipes in the house warm so they don't freeze.

So what other things can you do in order to prevent your pipes from freezing?

Keep Cupboard Doors Open

This is one of those things many don't think about, myself included. By opening the cupboard doors where you have pipes, you allow the heat from inside the house to reach those pipes and stay warmer.

Keeping those doors closed traps the cool air and it never gets a chance to get the heat from the house as there's no direct pathway to it.

Should I Drip Or Stream Faucets

Many think that having a steady light stream with all their faucets is what they need to do in order to keep the pipes clean and clear. That's not the case.

A simple drip is perfectly fine, and you don't have to do it on all faucets. Experts say dripping just one or two of them is perfectly fine.

Which Pipes Are Most Susceptible To Freezing

There are several types of pipes that are more likely to freeze than others. Obvious ones are the outdoor ones such as outdoor hose bibs and sprinkler supply lines.

What about indoors though? Places that are typically unheated, such as basements, attics, garages, crawl spaces, etc. are more likely to freeze than others. Without the heat, it's tough to keep them warm.

Wrap blankets, towels, rags, etc. around them to keep them at least covered so they don't get a direct hit of the cold.