RESIDENTS REMINDED TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS AHEAD OF FREEZING WEATHER

  

With freezing weather expected to hit Washington County and the surrounding areas this weekend, residents need to make sure they take all of the precautions necessary to protect their homes.

Kris Martinez, service manager with Texas Plumbing Solutions, says one of the most important steps people can take is to keep water moving slowly through the pipes in their home to avoid costly damages.

 

Martinez often finds that residents do not protect the plumbing on the exterior of their homes, like accidentally leaving garden hoses connected to the outside hose faucet.  He says any piping exposed on the outside needs to be wrapped with pipe insulation and any additional wrapping.  He also recommends opening the kitchen and bathroom cabinets if those water fixtures are located on an exterior wall in the home.

Brenham Fire Marshal Roger Williams says there are also several things residents need to keep in mind while attempting to keep their homes warm.

 

Residents should also follow heating safety tips such as keeping flammable objects away from heating equipment; making sure space heaters are working properly and plugged in directly to wall outlets, not extension cords or power strips; turning portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed; and regularly testing fire alarms.

People also need to take care of their pets during the winter, and should bring them indoors during the extreme cold.  Brenham Animal Services Manager Allison Harper says there are laws for pet owners to make note of when dealing with a weather advisory.

 

Harper says pets should avoid walking much on frozen ground as it can damage their paws.  Pet owners should wait until the cold weather passes before shaving their pets’ coats, and should provide them extra blankets.  In addition, Harper recommends that residents check the hood of their vehicle before starting it to make sure no animals are hiding from the cold underneath.

If residents have any plants, they should use protective covering for vulnerable plants, deep soak the soil if it is dry, move tropical plants indoors, and not place plants near a radiator, heat unit or cold draft.