Freezing Temperatures Arriving Soon

Practice the 4 Ps of Cold Weather Safety this Winter

November 27, 2024

Despite warmer temperatures anticipated for Thanksgiving, cooler air is forecast to roll in over the weekend, with the mercury potentially dipping below freezing. To protect people, pipes, pets and plants, the City of Tallahassee reminds citizens to take precautions ahead of this impending cold snap.

To avoid water pipes breaking due to frigid air, utility customers are advised to run at least one faucet in their home or business at a thin stream. This allows water to flow through the pipes and lowers the risk of broken water lines during freezing conditions. Unlike other liquids, water expands when it freezes. When water pipes freeze, the expanding water can break the pipe, and customers can be left with a thoroughly soaked house when the pipes thaw.

When freezing temperatures loom, citizens might see water trickling out of spigots in area parks and public spaces. This is part of the City's cold-weather plan to prevent or minimize issues caused by the cold. Signs should be posted nearby when this occurs, but if you see water running lightly from a pipe when arctic air threatens, please do not turn it off. This is intentional.

During periods of colder weather, City Utilities, as well as local plumbing contractors, typically receive calls from customers reporting broken water pipes. When pipes break between the water meter and the home or within the home, the customer is responsible for repairs. City Utilities repairs any damage to pipes between the water main under the street and the meter on your property or within in the main itself, which rarely happens since water runs continuously in the mains.

As freezing temperatures arrive, remember the 4 Ps of cold weather safety to keep people, pipes, pets and plants safe and warm.

People

• Practice Fire Safety
• Dress in layers of lightweight clothing, which will keep you warmer than one bulky sweater.
• Check on neighbors and family members who may be more susceptible to cold weather conditions, such as the elderly or disabled. If you are unable to reach them, TPD will conduct a welfare check for you. Simply call the Consolidated Dispatch Agency at 850-606-5800 to request the service.

Pipes

• Insulate pipes located outside or in the attic with cloth or a similar material to help prevent freezing.
• Make sure the cover to your water meter fits tightly. If your pipes do freeze, you can use the valve inside the meter box to shut off all the water to the house, helping to prevent indoor flooding when pipes thaw.
• Insulate your backflow assembly properly by wrapping or covering the pipe. Do not cover the bottom relief opening on the underside at the middle of the apparatus to avoid creating other flooding problems.
• Wrap commercial fire lines in buildings.
• Disconnect outside water hoses from spigots, as water trapped inside can freeze and crack the hose.

Pets

• Towel dry your pet's paws after walking on cold, wet grass to avoid chapped paws.
• Never shave your pet down to the skin in winter, as longer coats provide warmth in the cooler air. If your pet has short hair or is sensitive to the cold, consider getting them a coat or sweater to wear when outside.
• Provide shelter for outdoor pets or bring them indoors. Remember, if it's too cold for you, it's probably too cold for your pets.

Plants

• Move interior plants away from poorly insulated or drafty windows.
• Bring potted plants into your garage or shed or insulate the pot with plastic wrap or burlap.
• Add a thin layer of mulch around the base of young trees or shrubs, leaving a few inches of space near the trunk to prevent root rot.
• Cover garden beds or rooted plants with opaque plastic wrap or cardboard boxes, securely anchoring the cover to the ground with rocks or bricks to prevent cool air from sneaking in.
• Remove the coverings once temperatures begin to rise.

The City of Tallahassee wants to ensure all residents know what to do when the forecast calls for a hard freeze or other inclement weather conditions. Visit Talgov.com/ColdWeather for more information. Customers can call 850-891-4968 for utility service needs or report service issues via the City's free DigiTally app.

Stay weather aware with information from the National Weather Service at Weather.gov/tae or X.com/NWSTallahassee.