DUANE SHERRILLEditor

While the question of accumulating snow fall remains up in the air for this week, one thing the forecast models can agree upon is bitter cold as lows are expected to fall into the single digits and remain below freezing through midweek.

“Confidence is high in frigid temperatures arriving early this week,” the National Weather Service announced. “Temperatures will start to fall Sunday night. Once they get below freezing, temperatures will likely not rise above freezing again until Wednesday.”

Given the impending arctic plunge, the NWS is advising Tennessee residents not to wait in making preparations as last year’s pre-Christmas arctic plunge – which appears to be on par with the expected deep freeze – had a devastating impact on the mid-south, costing millions in repairs from the cold alone.

“Start getting prepared now,” the NWS advises. “Before the cold arrives, bring your pets indoors, drip your faucets, take care of any sensitive vegetation, and check on your family, friends, or neighbors to make sure they’re prepared, too.”

Humane Society advocates note that getting pets into shelter during the bitter cold could be the difference between life and death. State law allows for criminal charges for pet owners who allow harm of death to come to their animals due to lack of care and lack of adequate shelter.

While state, county and city utilities will be working to combat any snow fall, motorists are advised to use caution and to stay home should road conditions deteriorate due to any frozen precipitation. Given the low temperatures, salt and other winter road preparations will have minimal impact so long as temperatures stay below 22 degrees.

During the winter vortex of 2023 that hit just before Christmas, one of the main issues was the freezing of pipes as several days of near-zero temperatures had plumbers scrambling to meet demand of busted water pipes.

Some advice for residents in preparation for the winter cold include:

Wrap exposed pipes in insulating material to keep them from freezing. If you cannot insulate the pipes, direct your efforts to protect the pipes that are located near windows, exterior walls, or in an unheated area. Open cabinets that conceal the pipes. This will allow warm air from the room to circulate around the pipes.

If your garage is not heated or insulated, cracking the garage door allows heat from the house to reach vulnerable pipes and any plumbing equipment in the garage. Be sure to set the thermostat no lower than 60 degrees, especially if you are going to be gone for a couple of days. For slab foundations, keep the garage door closed.

If you have had problems with frozen pipes in the past, try running a small steady stream of water from a cold-water faucet during extremely cold temperatures. If your pipes freeze, the ice will thaw as daytime temperatures rise, but keep in mind the following: If you’re going to be at home, open a faucet, wait until water begins flowing again, and listen for leaks.

Water expands when it freezes, and this can cause leaks in your pipes. If you discover a leak, turn off the water supply to your home at the main shut-off valve and contact a plumber. If you’re planning to leave your home, turn off your water supply at the main shut-off valve.

Other good ideas to save headaches during the coming cold snap include:

Disconnect all outside garden hoses.

Install an insulating cover over all outside faucets.

Wrap pipes near external walls and in crawl spaces with pipe insulation or heating tape.

Close all windows near water pipes.

If you can’t close the air vents in your crawl space, cover them.

If you have a basement, heat it.

Install weather sealing, caulk, or tape to your windows.

Insulate outside walls and unheated areas of your home.

If you are going to be away from your home for an extended period, shut off the water supply valve to your washing machine.

How to know your water is frozen:

The first sign of a frozen pipe is reduced water flow from a faucet. Allow a faucet to drip slightly (lukewarm water) to minimize freezing.

Check your faucets for water flow and pressure before you go to sleep and again when you wake up.

Identify and insulate cold air drafts to prevent cold air from a flue, chimney, or exterior door from coming in.

If your pipes do freeze:

If a faucet or pipe inside your house freezes, you can thaw it using a hair dryer. (For safety purposes, avoid using a hair dryer around standing water.)

To thaw a frozen pipe, heat water on the stove, soak towels in the hot water and wrap them around cold sections of the pipe.

When thawing a pipe, start thawing it nearest to the faucet.  

Make sure the faucet is turned on so that the melted water can drip.