DUANE SHERRILLEditor

Arctic cold with a potential for snow is in the forecast for this week, with lows dipping into the teens; while weather models are saying frozen precipitation is likely this weekend.

While not the first cold snap of the season, the present chill is the most significant of the winter as lows are predicted to fall into the high teens Wednesday night–before the calculation of wind chill–making for a bitterly cold evening. However, the deep freeze won’t be over until the first of next week as Thursday calls for a high of 34° F and low of 27° F while Friday calls for the high not to get above freezing. And, something else the forecast calls for Friday is frozen precipitation, something that could stay locked in over the weekend as the highs will not break 40° F until afternoon on Monday. While forecast models are still debating on how much and what kind of precipitation Tullahoma will get, they all basically agree that the area will see some form of frozen precipitation this Friday.

As of press-time, the National Weather Service called for a 50 percent chance of snow showers, mainly before midnight on Friday.

While the potential snowfall is not expected to reach the dramatic event of last January, which saw Coffee County getting over a half-foot of snow, and locked people in for a week because of near-zero temperatures, it may have one similarity: that being the threat for frozen pipes.

During last year’s arctic blast, it was estimated Tennesseans suffered damages well into the millions of dollars due to burst pipes and collateral damage caused by water.

With that in mind, experts suggest taking the following precautions given the long-range forecasts that call for sub-freezing temperatures.

Insulate pipes: Use pipe-insulating materials, heat tape, or heat cable to insulate pipes in unheated areas like attics, basements, and crawl spaces. You can also use newspaper to insulate exposed pipes.

Keep the thermostat consistent: Set your thermostat to the same temperature day and night.

Open cabinet doors: Open cabinet doors in the kitchen and bathroom to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing.

Let water drip: Turn on a faucet served by exposed pipes and let the water drip, even at a trickle.

Turn off water when leaving home: If you’re leaving your home for more than a few days, shut off the water to your home and drain your water lines. If you leave the water on, set your heat no lower than 55° F.

Disconnect outside hoses: Any outside hoses should be disconnected from

the water source, and turn off valves inside your home that supply water to the outside valve.

Seal air drafts: Close off crawl spaces and seal air drafts around fixtures.

Caulk around pipes: Caulk around pipes where they enter your home.

Install a pipe sleeve: Install a pipe sleeve for water pipes that are not insulated.

Report frozen meters: If you think your meter is frozen, call your water utility’s customer service line immediately. Do not thaw your water meter.

If you needs to thaw a frozen pipe, you can use a hair dryer, heating pad, or space heater. Never use an open flame to thaw pipes. If you can’t thaw the pipe, or if you’re not sure how to, call a licensed plumber.