Although three major weather forecasting operations disagree on just how cold it will get, there is no question the coldest weather thus far this winter is about to hit home and hit home hard.
Averaging the predictions of the National Weather Service, The Weather Channel and Intellicast, here are the updated forecast temps.
PREVENT FREEZING PIPES
---OUTSIDE---
* Caulk around pipes where they enter the house.
* If you have a shut-off valve for outside faucets, shut it off and drain it for
the winter.
* Close all foundation vents, and seal all cold air leaks.
* Wrap outside faucets with insulation if they aren’t drained.
* Disconnect garden hoses, and drain in-ground irrigation systems according to manufacturer’s instructions.
---INSIDE---
* Insulate pipes in unheated areas like crawl spaces, attics, and basements.
Use insulating tape or a molded pipe sleeve.
* When weather is below freezing, open cupboard doors in the bathrooms and kitchen, so pipes get more heat.
* Let the water run in faucets furthest from the street if the temperature dips below freezing. A stream smaller than a pencil width should be enough.
Seriously, we ended up stuffing stuff down the defunct HVAC vents and duct taping it to the crawl space vents. We thought we were weatherproofed, but 15 degree weather taught us we weren't! Any good tips out there?