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Stay safe during freezing temperatures
Remember the four “Ps” of winter weather safety.
Click on each for more information
Taking care of People
- Make a family communication plan and discuss with your family.
- Make an emergency kit.
- Keep warm, stay inside if possible.
- If you need to go out, dress in layers and wear hats, gloves, and an appropriate coat.
- If you must travel, use Sugar Land's Real-Time Traffic Conditions Map to check traffic and road conditions before you head out.
- Avoid overexertion, as cold weather puts added strain on your body.
- Never place a space heater on top of furniture or near water.
- Keep heat sources at least 3 feet away from furniture and drapes.
- Never leave children unattended near a space heater.
- Protect yourself from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning by installing a battery-operated CO detector and never using generators, grills, camp stoves, or similar devices indoors.
Taking care of Pets
- Bring pets inside, and move other animals or livestock to sheltered areas.
- Keep adequate food and water available.
- It's important to remember that a pet's age, breed, or illness may affect how they tolerate the cold winter months. The Houston SPCA advises that it is best that all pets live indoors due to these unpredictable weather conditions.
| Check out our winter pet safety flyer for additional tips. |
Taking care of Pipes
- There's no need to drip inside faucets during freezing weather (it will not adversely affect city water pressure if residents choose to do so), though there’s benefit to keeping cabinets open to expose pipes to warm air (as long as there’s nothing harmful inside that’s accessible to small children or pets).
- Disconnect outdoor hoses, drain, and store in a protected area.
- If you have a pool, besides keeping the pump running, make sure all the valves are open as well.
- Disconnect and drain your irrigation system.
- Wrap all your outside water pipes: faucets, main water pipes, sprinkler vacuum breaker, etc.
- You can purchase covers for these at your local hardware store. One can also wrap with towels and blankets to make sure pipes are not exposed.
- Drain and turn off your main valve to sprinkler vacuum breaker – then cover them.
- Open closet doors also in case you have plumbing in the walls or ceiling.
- Turn your thermostats hotter during the cold to help heat the home better.
Taking care of Plants
- Know which plants need to be protected and which can withstand the cold
- For cold-sensitive outdoor plants, put down extra mulch and consider covering them with a cloth fabric of some kind to shield the plants from wind and frost.
- If there is sleet or snow that collects, dust it off as soon as it is safe.
- Bring potted plants inside or store in the garage, near an interior wall to provide extra warmth and protection from wind.
Home Safety
- Fit exposed pipes with insulation sleeves or wrapping to slow heat transfer.
- Learn how to shut off water valves (in case a pipe bursts).
- Seal cracks and holes in outside walls and foundations near water pipes with caulking.
- Make sure you have a working carbon monoxide detector. Carbon monoxide related deaths are highest during colder months.
- Make sure your gutters are clear of leaves and debris.
- Maintain heating equipment and chimneys by having them cleaned and inspected every year.
Sprinkler System Breaker Protection
What to do if your pipes freeze
- Turn off the main water to your home
- Open all interior faucets
- Wait for the temperature outside to rise above freezing
- Keep a close eye out for leaks as frozen pipes often expand, crack and leak
If a pipe bursts
- Locate and shut off water at the main valve
- If main valve cannot be located, call 311 or 281-275-2900 and the city's utility staff will come and turn off water at the meter
- Call a plumber
Main Water Valve Shut Off