Louisiana isn't known for brutal winters, but when an Arctic front pushes south, our homes are some of the least prepared in the country. Most pipes here run through uninsulated crawl spaces, attics, and exterior walls because they almost never need to handle freezing temperatures. When they do, the result is burst pipes, water damage, and emergency calls that pile up across the parish overnight.
The good news: you can usually prevent the worst of it with a few simple steps before the freeze arrives.
As soon as a hard freeze is in the forecast, disconnect every outdoor hose and cover the spigots with foam insulation covers from any hardware store. Open the cabinet doors under your kitchen and bathroom sinks to let warm indoor air circulate around the supply lines. If you have pipes running through your attic or an exterior wall you can access, wrap them in foam pipe insulation.
Let a thin stream of water drip from at least one faucet on each side of the house. Moving water freezes much more slowly than still water, and the small amount you'll add to your bill is far cheaper than a repair. Keep your thermostat at the same temperature day and night, even if you're leaving town.
Shut off your main water valve first. Then open the affected faucet and apply gentle heat to the frozen section with a hair dryer or heating pad. Never use an open flame. If you can't locate the freeze, or if you see any sign of a burst, call us right away. The longer water sits in a damaged line, the worse the damage gets.
