CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – New Year's Day looks to be the next cold blast for the Tennessee Valley… especially given the wide variation in weather across the News 12 viewing area.
“The people who live here in these mountains are the most vulnerable people. So one day it could be 40 degrees and the next day the temperatures could be below freezing. And if you haven’t taken the necessary precautions, you could be one of the people who ends up with a problem,” said Coe Crawford of Rick Crawford Plumbing
Coe Crawford believes it's important to take care of frozen pipes BEFORE cold temperatures arrive.
“If you don't take care of it, there could be a bust, and a bust would lead to a big problem. And these problems cost a lot of money, and the last thing you want to do after spending all your Christmas money is have to pay damages or be left without water,” Crawford said.
Signs of frozen pipes can include frost on the outside of the pipes, unpleasant odors coming from your faucet or drain, and low water flow.
Sean Crawford of Larry Crawford Plumbing shares how to avoid dealing with frozen pipes.
“The first thing you need to do is put antifreeze caps on your hose nozzles on the outside of the house and insulate any exposed pipework. The wind will freeze the pipe more than the cold. Therefore, on a cold, windy day, make sure the garage doors are closed, especially if there are water pipes in the garage. When you leave town, turn off the water, drain the hose connections and relieve pressure on the house,” Crawford said.
On particularly cold nights, experts suggest placing faucets on outside walls so they drip.
And Sean Crawford says it will also help keep the heat in your home.
“Open your closet doors, especially on exterior walls, especially if your cabin is on exterior walls, let the heat in. That's the main thing. “Try to keep the wind up and get as much heat as possible onto the pipes,” Crawford concluded.
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