“Are we going to the pool today?” I was caught off guard by my son’s question. I was about to laugh him off when I noticed his shorts and bare feet. Earlier in the day, I had to switch the thermostat from heat to A/C. And despite the leaves still covering the lawn, the humidity and almost-eighty-degree heat were sending some pretty mixed signals. For a two year old, these were all the signs of summer. Innocently asked, his question is pretty humorous for those of us who are familiar with the unpredictability of Texas weather. 

The record high for January in Dallas / Fort Worth was set in 1969… a whopping 88 degrees. The record low was on January 31, 1949 at -2 degrees. In case this hasn’t registered yet, that’s a 90 degree difference! While we don’t expect to be setting any record highs or lows this January (hopefully!) it’s a good idea to be aware of the possibility of rapidly-shifting temperatures. After a warm week like this one, we don’t want to be caught off-guard by a “sneaky-cold” front later this month. 

Several months ago when the first big cold front hit, I was standing outside in shorts and a t-shirt marveling at how perfect 75 degrees could feel on a fall afternoon. Little did I know that later that night I would be bundled up in my heaviest coat, getting pelted by icy wind and freezing rain as I frantically taped foam insulation around my pipes. If only I had had some forethought and taken advantage of the nice weather!

Much as you may have considered unwrapping pipes or de-winterizing your property’s sprinkler system, it is still far too early in the year for that. In fact, when the weather is temperate is the perfect time to double-check your pipes for proper insulation and make sure your emergency game plan is in place.

Insulate exposed faucets and pipes. Most hardware stores sell temporary foam pipe insulation (it looks like a small pool noodle with an adhesive strip) as well as plastic and foam pipe covers. These are very inexpensive preventative measures against very expensive problems. 

When temperatures begin to drop, take extra precautions. Open interior cabinet doors in kitchens and bathrooms to allow temperature-controlled air to access pipes. If your facility also has janitorial rooms or closets with running water, open these doors as well (oftentimes these small spaces will not have an air duct running to them, meaning they could get very cold overnight if the door is left shut). Leave the heat on in the building when you leave for the day. If temperatures will be extremely cold, leave faucets dripping (just make sure you don’t accidentally leave a stopper in the drain).

Save the number for Sonlight Cleaning Services in your phone. Even with precautionary measures, sometimes pipes freeze. Toilets overflow. Accidents happen. At this point, you would make two phone calls. The first is to a licensed master plumber with a good reputation in your area. The second is to Sonlight Cleaning Services. In addition to regular janitorial cleaning, we also specialize in carpet cleaning and flood restoration. Unwanted water is never a welcome guest. Our team will have your facilities as good as new in no time (and clean up behind the plumber while we’re at it)! 

When the rollercoaster of Texas temperatures seems ready for a big dip, Sonlight Cleaning Services has got you covered.