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It's Going to Be Frigging Freezing Tonight - Quick Tips on Avoiding Burst Pipe Calamities

According to the National Weather Service, it's going drop to just below zero in Albuquerque tonight, and with windchill, it's going to feel like a brisk -21.

Thought this would be an opportunity to review some some cold safety tips for your home, courtesy of your neighbor and mine, State Farm. (I'm sure Farmers has some too, I just came across State Farm's first). Here are some highlights:

Disconnect garden hoses and, if practical, use an indoor valve to shut off and drain water from pipes leading to outside faucets. This reduces the chance of freezing in the short span of pipe just inside the house.

A trickle of hot and cold water might be all it takes to keep your pipes from freezing. Let warm water drip overnight, preferably from a faucet on an outside wall.

Open cabinet doors to allow heat to get to uninsulated pipes under sinks and appliances near exterior walls.

And thought it probably goes without saying that you and your pets should stay warm and safe and inside tonight, please stay warm and safe inside tonight - both you and your furry friends.

Tags: Cold

3 members like this

Comment by Adelita on February 1, 2011 at 5:38pm: Just went outside to disconnect my hose and the spigot/faucet shattered! Wow it's cold!!!

Comment by Ron Da Bomb on February 1, 2011 at 5:56pm: (plugs in his phone and laptop)...Great tip Sophie!

Comment by amy bone on February 1, 2011 at 8:02pm: Put a water bucket under your dripping faucet and you'll have some water for your plants, too. After you plug in your devices ;-)

Comment by Barelas Babe on February 1, 2011 at 8:09pm: Just plugged my kindle! Thanks for the tips.

Comment by Edith Grove on February 2, 2011 at 10:36am: Anybody else in the Nob Hill/University area having a water outage? I don't know if it's just my house or if others are affected as well. I'm worried because I have hot water heat. No water = no heat.

Comment by Alexis on February 2, 2011 at 10:39am: Edith, no water in all your faucets or just one?

Comment by Edith Grove on February 2, 2011 at 10:44am: It's all of them. I'm actually out of town dealing with a family medical emergency. I have a couple people watching the house for me that let me know the water is out. I'm don't want my cats to freeze.