What would you do to prep for a freeze at your house with the weather forecast as it is?

Seriously considering turning off the water main at the curb and turning off the water heater and draining. Should I leave all the faucets open or let them drain for a few and then close them back up?

Dill-Ag13 said:

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What would you do to prep for a freeze at your house with the weather forecast as it is?

Seriously considering turning off the water main at the curb and turning off the water heater and draining. Should I leave all the faucets open or let them drain for a few and then close them back up?

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Turn it off at the street. Drain the house. Maybe not a bad time to drain the water heater if you have time. If you drain the water heater, it is not a bad idea to shut off the gas. They have fail safes if the power goes out, but a block valve is even better. Also don't want a bunch of heating on an empty water heater. I would leave one of the tub faucets open and maybe one more, just to be safe. Also go around and open up all the hose bibs. You don't have to leave them open, just want to make sure it isn't holding water.

I am sure an expert will be around soon, but this is what I would do. Don't forget the sprinklers, if you have them.

Thanks basically all along my line of thinking and shutting off gas to the water heater is no big deal

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Don't forget the sprinklers, if you have them.

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I've never done anything to prep the sprinklers and never had a problem.

PlanoAg98 said:

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Quote:

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Don't forget the sprinklers, if you have them.

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I've never done anything to prep the sprinklers and never had a problem.

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Think he meant backflow preventer which I do every year.

We are in the same situation. I was thinking of shutting off water to pool and draining pool equipment by pulling the pump, filter, and heater plugs. Then I was considering shutting off main water to house and switching the water heaters to vacation mode.

Is it a bad idea to put water heater in vacation mode with the freezing temps though? I'd hate to think we caused the water heaters to freeze because we didn't let them keep heating themselves.

If temperature forecast improves, I may not do anything, but right now seeing 26 degrees as low next Tuesday. If that improves to 28, I may just do the pool and leave the house alone. I don't really expect any pipes freezing, but if we were to lose power, I'd hate to have to ask a neighbor to go and shut down the pool equipment. It would be much easier to ask a neighbor to just go shut off the main water.

Thoughts?