AUSTIN, Texas — When temperatures stay below freezing for an extended period, it can cause some major issues in homes, especially with pipes. Now is the best time to make sure you're prepared.
As the cooler temperatures are moving into the Austin area this weekend, experts say a person needs to be prepared, especially with pipes, by making sure faucets inside are dripping.
"Get a dip going on all the faucets in the house, of course," said Joe Trevino who works with Abacus. "Turn it on to a slight drip. You can go to a couple of drips if you would like. People like to run it ... So it’s a constant flow."
Trevino said the dripping prevents the pipe from freezing.
"It does not allow it to freeze. If it sits it will pile up and get it hard enough to burst the pipe, have an issue outside and bigger issues for the home and throughout the home," Trevino said.
For outside your home, outdoor faucets need to be covered. There are different styles and faucet covers, and if you can't find a faucet cover, you can use a towel and wrap it around.
"If it’s not protected, it will freeze ... And burst the pipe inside the house," Trevino said.
If pipes do burst, Trevino recommends calling the City first to see if they can shut the main line. He also said if you know where your cutoff is, the valve should stop water to the whole house.
When it comes to your water heater, if it's located in the attic, you may want to cover those pipes too.
"The attic is going to get cold," Trevino said. "It could get below freezing. Use a towel or a shirt to get more security on that pipe."