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Are you Ready?
Freezing cold dry air is headed our way from Alaska. This is not something that Californians are readily prepared for but you need to be.
If pipes burst, its extremely costly. Investing in $10 worth of pipe insulation is worth it! This freezing arctic cold spell is suppose to last through Saturday. I strongly suggest to wrap all exposed pipes with insulation. A small faucet drip is also advised in order to keep the water flow going and not freezing.
Today, while picking up my insulation for my home and rentals, Lowes and a few of the Home Depot Stores were out of insulation.
A phone call prior to driving is recommended. It is easy to install the
insulation around the pipes. Tape is always handy for those corners when youre having trouble with the cuts like I did.
Since most of the stores were out of the larger pipe insulation, I simply used two of the smaller sections and taped around the edges and center. It works.
Be sure to know how and where to cut your water off should a pipe burst. If you have a property that is vacant make sure to leave a faucet on!
Remember your pets bring your pets indoors during this cold spell. Since the temperature at night will be in the 20s and in some areas the teens, expect crops and vegetation to suffer. It is advisable to cover as many of your plants as possible. Our plants are not accustomed to this chill. Bring what you can indoors and be sure to cover citrus and delicate plants.
Some swimming pools have automatic controls to safe guard the motor and pipes during freezing temperatures. However, best to be safe than sorry turn the filter system on during the night and let it run so as to insure that the pipes do not freeze. One of my homeowners tonight said that he wasnt about to trust that mechanism to work and he would be turning his filter on throughout each of the nights of freezing temperatures.
The Governor has provided two websites for emergency preparedness during this cold spell at Cold Weather Release and Sacramento Breaking News on Extreme Cold Forecast .
Just to cap…
- Wrap up your pipes
- Turn the the swimming pool filters on
- Dress warmly
- Cover your plants
- Bring in your pets
- Check on your neighbor
- Know how to shut water off
- Read the Governors Cold Weather Release
Hard to believe that just a couple of weeks ago I was in sunny Hawaii what a difference.
Hi Gena – being used to cold weather up here in NH, I’d say you’ve put together a great list for those folks not accustomed to the cold temperatures and what they can do.
Stay safe and warm!
Ann
These are great tips. All I see on the news are those poor people that don’t realize that water freezes at 32 degrees… oops.
Some are even calling the water department asking why their water was shut off. Man oh Man
Thank you Ann for your visit and comment. I know that it’s hard to have any pity on us here in CA but we really aren’t use to this nor do we wish to get use to it. I’m afraid that prices of oranges, tangerines, avacodos etc. will reflect how we have weathered this unfortunate cold spell. Hope you are weathering your freezing temperatures in NH.
Jim, you are absolutely right. I called all of my past clients starting with those that have swimming pools last week to tell them to run their pools at night. One of my client’s neighbors told them a couple days later about leaving the pool on and my client said that she already knew…the neighbor asked if the pool guy had called her and she said, “no, my realtor, friend did.” The neighbor was apparently shocked and became even more shocked when she realized that she had been in the house for 2 years and couldn’t believe that her realtor still talked to her. I guess some folks don’t take care of their clients after the deal is over.
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