Weather

Winter weather and freezing temperatures are expected this week across Texas. The National Weather Service is forecasting widespread freezing temperatures on Friday and Saturday morning (12/23 – 12/24). In such conditions, it is imperative to protect the “Four P’s”: People, pets, pipes and plants.

People

• Keep warm, stay inside if possible.
• If you need to go out, dress in layers and wear hats, gloves and an appropriate coat.
• Avoid overexertion, as cold weather puts added strain on your body.

Pets

• Bring pets inside, and move other animals or livestock to sheltered areas.
• Keep adequate food and water available.

Pipes

• Disconnect outdoor hoses, drain and store in protected area.
• Wrap exposed faucets and pipes – including those outside the house or in unheated crawl spaces, attics, garages and other areas.

Plants

• Bring potted plants inside or store in garage near interior wall to provide extra warmth and protection from wind.
• For cold-sensitive outdoor plants, put down extra mulch and consider covering with a cloth fabric of some kind to shield the plants from wind and frost.

Additionally, if you have an irrigation system, turn off the water to the system at your backflow preventer and then drain the system so your irrigation pipes and sprinkler heads are not damaged.

As it pertains to the dripping of faucets, we are asking and advising our residents and customers NOT to drip their faucets. This could cause a dip in water pressure at your facility. If you reside within the greater Houston area and are part of the Regional Water Authorities (West Harris County Regional Water Authority, North Fort Bend Regional Water Authority, North Harris County Regional Water Authority), or receive water from the City of Houston, dripping faucets will put a strain on the system resulting in low pressure or even depleting the water system.

The following sites can also be used as a source of information and to keep you updated:

• Forecasts: National Weather Service Houston-Galveston
• Winter Weather Safety: National Weather Service
• Local Road Conditions: Houston TranStar
• State Road Conditions: DriveTexas.org
• Space Heater Safety: National Fire Protection Association
• Draining Your Home Plumbing System: The Spruce

• Locate and insulate pipes most susceptible to freezing — typically those near outer walls, in crawl spaces, or in the attic. Insulation made especially for this purpose is available.
• Disconnect garden hoses and shut off and insulate outside pipes and faucets.
• Make sure heat is left on and set no lower than 55 degrees.
• Make sure you and your family knows how to shut off the water in case pipes burst.

Inframark is working diligently to ensure water and wastewater services remain online. Due to inclement weather, power outages and equipment failures are being experienced throughout the area. Dangerous road conditions are creating challenges for accessing some facilities. Our dedicated team is working on resolving issues as promptly as possible.

Inframark’s Customer Call Center is experiencing similar power and internet service issues that many are seeing throughout Texas and unable to consistently take calls. At this time no accounts are being turned off for delinquency due to the extreme weather event. If your matter is life threatening, please call 911.