Freezing temps aren't going away - notify your tenants

[Kenny Hall]

What steps are you taking to protect your properties during the freezing temps? Looks like we'll be in the single digits again this weekend and negative wind chill. The wind getting into the crawl spaces and freezing the pipes if it's not properly heated can be costly. 

Ask your PM if they've sent an email to the tenants reminding them of some of the basics: let the faucets drip water to keep water flow running, keep temps around 68-70 in the house and keep it consistent to not overwork the furnace causing it to go out, and keep lower cabinet doors open so heat can easily access the supply pipes. If they'll be going away for a few days or more, tell them to let you know so you can check on the property once or twice while they're away. If there is a crawl space, it's worth inspecting the perimeter of the home for any vents, gaps, cracks in the foundation that would allow air flow - grab some straw and lay it over these gaps to keep the wind from blowing in. If the property has a sink or washer or other water supply line on an exterior wall, it may be worth dropping off a space heater to run in that area during these low temps. 

If you have pipes freeze, it's important to thaw them carefully to mitigate damage. Feel free to reach out, I've got some great contacts/plumbers that can help with this specifically. But you want to figure out where the freeze is in the pipes and warm it slowly working backwards from the faucet opening. Keep your faucets open to allow water to drip out as it thaws instead of keeping the pressure. You can warm supply lines with a hair dryer, warm towel, or space heater if you have easy access to them. Some aren't as easy and might require more attention. If you realize the pipe is burst (usually copper pipes), shut off the water at the street to mitigate any flooding and damage and have a plumber address the issue. 

Overall, make sure your PM is notifying your tenants of some simple steps they can do to mitigate freezing pipes. We've got some single digit temps coming up with negative wind chill - better safe than sorry. Happy to chat about this more if you'd like.