Interesting info on frozen pipes and how to prevent them (Phoenix: house, buy)

[AndroidAZ]

I can't believe we have to worry about this here in AZ, but a friend experienced frozen pipes this morning in Tucson.

The article at weather.com is very interesting and worth a lot of attention just for rare occasions like right now: weather.com - Severe Weather Readiness

I considered dripping my faucet last night but decided not to. If in the future the lows get closer to the low 20's, I'll probably drip my faucets.

I was also going to cover my plants, but it was so windy it would have blown them right off, so I didn't do that either. I hope none of my plants die!

And how cold did it get in Phoenix? Cold enough for the picture!!!

[TootsieWootsie]

I was told to just turn off my water if it gets that cold. My house was built in 1994, and all I have to do is go turn a lever which is ez. I didn't do it during this freeze, and am having no water problems at all.
For the plants, tho, my plants turned black at the tops of my lantana and the flowering plants, also (don't know their name)--and they were covered for the most part!!! I plan to just cut the black parts off when this cold freeze for the year is over.
My larger sego palm is covered with a sheet. I even had to run to Savers and buy an old sheet for $2.99, but since the plant was $300 I'm doing it. A king sheet covers it (it's still not very old I think), and I had to hold down the sheet with heavy rocks I found in the yard.
They say don't keep rocks that a burglar can pick and and break your window with in the yard, but everyone here had rocks in their yards so it wouldn't be hard for Mr. Burglar to do.
Anyway, heavy rocks hold those sheets down, and I agree the wind here surprised me, too...and I lived for years in Chicago!
Hope this helps.

[musicforme]

I was born and raised in the Dallas area. Any time it was going to be below freezing, the hardware stores always had insulated faucet covers right by the front door.

I stopped by my local Home Depot this week and asked about insulated faucet covers. The guy looked at me like I was crazy or something and didn't know what I was talking about. I'm going to have my parents back in Texas send me a couple of them since I can't get them locally.

In the mean time, I used some old moving blankets and tape to cover my exposed pipes.

[TootsieWootsie]

I was looking for the blankets for plants that just came out (some special blankets that they had on one of the morning shows). I head Home Depot here is carrying all that stuff.
And, for gosh sakes, Home Depot and Lowes should be carrying pipe insulation covers. Sounds like you just got a guy who didn't have a clue as to what he was doing which is no shock at either Home Depot or Lowes, unfortunately, often.

[esnox82]

As someone from the midwest... another helpful tip is to leave the cabinet doors open under the sinks... especially if the indoor fixtures are on an outdoor wall.