Will My Pipes Freeze Tonight? Shreveport Weather Safety Checklist

It might feel like we just did this, but you cannot skip the prep work. The NWS put it best on their social media page today: "Protect everything tonight from dangerously cold wind chill temperatures. These temperatures will become very hazardous if outdoor exposure is prolonged."

To make sure your home stays a sanctuary and not a flood zone, you need to run through this essential checklist before the sun goes down on Friday:

The Faucet Trickle: Allow a small, steady trickle of water to run overnight. Don't worry about the water bill, a few cents of water is much cheaper than a $3,000 plumbing repair. Focus on faucets located on exterior walls, as those pipes are the most vulnerable.

Open Up Your Cabinets: It looks a little messy, but open every cabinet door under your kitchen and bathroom sinks. You want the warm air from your heater to circulate around those hidden pipes.

Find Your Shut-Off Valve: If a pipe does burst, every second counts. Do you know where your main water shut-off is? If not, find it now so you aren't searching in the dark while your living room is flooding.

Sprinklers & Hoses: Disable your automatic sprinklers immediately. Also, make sure you detach your garden hoses. My dad always wrapped our outdoor faucets, and he was right—hardware stores sell inexpensive foam covers that can save your exterior plumbing.

Space Heater Safety: This is the big one. If you’re using a space heater, keep it at least 3 to 4 feet away from anything that can burn (curtains, rugs, or bedding). Most importantly: Never use an extension cord with a space heater. These units draw so much power they can easily melt a cord and start a fire. Plug them directly into the wall!

Stay warm, stay safe, and let's get through this final freeze together, Shreveport!