As the cold snap tightens its grip, the City of Oklahoma City - Government is stepping up to ensure residents have the know-how to protect their plumbing from winter's chill. They've recently shared a straightforward video tutorial, teaching how to best prep pipes against the dropping temperatures. Winterizing isn't just about chucking salt on your porch or ensuring your tire tread can handle the slush; it's also about safeguarding the arteries of your home from freezing solid.
According to the City of Oklahoma City Facebook page, understanding the nuances between a drip and a stream is crucial. They recommend, "If yours has a single handle, turn on the hot water first until hot water begins to flow, then bring the handle into the middle so both hot and cold flow at the same time and lower the pressure to a small stream no wider than the lead of a pencil (the lowest steady stream possible)." But the guidance doesn't stop with just the faucets.
Indoors, the city suggests a focused approach – only drip pipes that run along exterior walls where they're most vulnerable. They also advise residents to keep cabinet doors under sinks flung open to let warmer air circulate around the plumbing. For those who want to take an extra step, wrapping pipes or using insulating covers is on the recommendations list. In basements or crawl spaces, they stress that exposed water pipes should be wrapped properly to provide a bulwark against the cold.
Outdoors is another battlefield against the freeze. The city's Facebook post also outlines measures like disconnecting garden hoses, covering outdoor faucets with insulating material, and ensuring sprinklers are off and insulated. They put a fine point on the advice: "Turn off automatic sprinkler systems. Only water during extended dry periods and when temperatures are above 32 - do not let sprinkler systems run during freezing temperatures," a statement obtained by the City of Oklahoma City Facebook page.
