BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) – As temperatures drop over the weekend, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and Bryan plumbers share preparation methods and how to keep safe in the cold.
“We’re preparing for the worst and we’re hoping for the best… That’s why we pretreat our roadways, and we’re doing this all across the State of Texas, not just only here in the the 10 counties of the Bryan District. We’re getting ready as a state,” explained Bobby Colwell with TxDOT.
One Bryan plumbing company’s biggest piece of advice in preparing for the upcoming freeze was to make sure any pipes exposed to the cold are wrapped in insulation material and dry.
Jarrid Perry, master plumber at American Plumbing Company, told KBTX if people can’t find faucet covers and insulation gear at a store, household items will also prevent burst pipes.
“You can use towels,” he suggested. “Plastic bags is generally what I would use. The whole idea is you want to make sure everything stays dry. If you wrap it with towels, you want to make sure those towels stay dry. So, you’ll wrap it with the towel and then put a plastic bag over it, and maybe tape that plastic plastic bag down.”
TxDOT advised drivers to stay off the roads as much as possible during the freeze, and if driving is necessary, take the roads slowly and give yourself extra time in the morning.
“We see it all the time. Just because the speed limit says 70 miles per hour doesn’t mean that you can drive [that speed] in those conditions. Those are for ideal conditions. On a sunny, hot 100° day. That’s what we’re more used to driving in here in the State of Texas. So, please, please, everyone, let’s just slow down and take it easy,” Colwell pleaded.
Other tips TxDOT shared to stay safe on the roads include:
- Buckle seatbelts
- Check forecast and road conditions
- Decrease speed
- Increase following distance
- Do not use cruise control
According to American Plumbing, sprinkler systems are often forgotten about while prepping for a freeze but are just as vulnerable to the cold temperatures as exposed pipes.
“I see them all the time. They’ll go out there and just shut [the sprinkler system] off, and then as soon as they go to turn them back on, they froze up and then water is spraying everywhere,” exemplified Perry. “I would say, ‘pay attention to your sprinkler system, components of it, and just kind of go from there.’ Just always wrap anything that’s going to be outside.”
Perry also urged residents to pay attention to locations of faucets. If a faucet is on an outward wall, always leave the faucet dripping and open any doors to let heat reach the pipes.
Among street safety warnings, the state agency said the best preparation is staying informed.
“Please monitor your local weather and stay tuned to what they have to say, and if they ask you not to get out on the roadways, don’t,” Colwell added. “That is something in Texas we’re not very good at, is driving on ice and snowy weather. So, if we don’t have to drive and travel during this area, that’s the best thing.”
To stay up to date on the weather forecast, visit KBTX weather online. To learn about road conditions, visit the TxDOT Highway Conditions website.
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