Oklahomans Prepare for Temperatures to Plunge

By Rusty Surette, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- With a cold arctic blast headed for Oklahoma, experts are warning residents to be prepared, especially at home.

Scott Amos of M-D Building Products said there are some simple things homeowners should be doing at home to help guard against the unforgiving winter weather.

"Depending on the age of the home and how well it's insulated, you can have issues with frozen pipes when it gets to this cold," Amos said.

To prevent busted pipes, Amos said the best thing to do is to let a trickle of warm water drip from your faucets, and not just one, but all of them.

"You definitely want to do the ones that are on the exterior walls, because they have more of a chance to freeze," Amos said.

Learn more about protecting your home in the winter.

Amos said it's also a good idea to keep all cabinets and bathroom doors open. That allows warm air to circulate into the room and to the pipes.

There are also several ways to protect exposed pipes, including the traditional foam insulation and the more expensive pipe heating cable.

"It wraps around the pipe. It's got a thermostat down here that when the weather reaches a certain temperature it pops on. It'll run current through this, and it'll actually heat the pipe up," Amos said.

Homeowners should also disconnect garden hoses, and if possible, use an indoor valve to shut off the water and drain the pipes that lead to outside faucets. If that is not possible, a cover is inexpensive and can be put over the faucet to protect it from the freeze.

If your pipes do freeze, experts said homeowners should immediately shut off their water and call a plumber.

Find products to help winterize your home.