As Arizona braces for bone-chilling temperatures, experts are doling out advice on how to keep the heat on and the pipes unfrozen. According to The State Journal-Register, Doug Gholson, general manager of MB Heating and Cooling, suggested homeowners check on their pipe's heat tape before the mercury plummets. Meanwhile, Jake Surratt, an agent with Country Financial, advised that freezing concerns spike when temps tumble to 20 degrees.
In an age where a weather can swing from sunny skies to storm systems in a New York minute, local weather forecasts are indicating a substantial warm-up. 12News reports that afternoon highs will stay at near normal before shooting up 7 to 10 degrees above average later in the week. But as the weekend approaches, residents should keep their umbrellas at hand as a new system could usher in some rainfall.
On the prevention front, Gholson pointed out common mistakes like leaving garden hoses attached which can lead to leaks when ice forms and expands. "Most commonly, it starts where somebody accidentally left a hose hooked up to the outside of the house," Gholson told The State Journal-Register. He underscored the simple measure of taking a stroll around the house to disconnect hoses and investing in insulated bib covers to prevent leakage.
When the lights go out, Gholson recommends the use of whole-home generators to get the juice flowing again. However, identifying the root of a power outage is crucial. "It's on your side," Gholson relayed a common revelation from electric companies, urging immediate electrician intervention to avoid freezing conditions at home. Such preparation is critical, especially as 12News forecasts suggest shifting weather patterns in Arizona, a state notorious for its severe climatic swings.
For storm enthusiasts and weather warriors, the action doesn't stop with the forecasts. 12News is curating footage of thunderstorms, floods, and fires across the Grand Canyon State, inviting individuals to submit their captures of meteorological marvels, safely, of course.
