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Texas Winter Weather Advisory

Protect Your Home During the Arctic Freeze

 

ATTENTION HOMEOWNERS

Your home fire sprinkler systems can freeze in extremely cold temperatures.  According to the National Weather Service, Texas will experience freezing temperatures in the coming days beginning Thursday, December 22nd. Below are a few guidelines you should follow to help reduce the chances of the fire sprinkler system in your home freezing and to mitigate damage if your fire sprinkler system does freeze.

  • Set all thermostats in your home to a minimum of 73 degrees.  Even for rooms/floors not in use, set the thermostat to at least 73 degrees.
  • There may be an accessory heater in your garage.  If there is an accessory heater in your garage, make sure the heater is programmed to come on at the highest temperature setting possible.
  • Make sure you know where the cut off valve to your fire sprinkler system is located.
  • Make sure you can access the cut off valve to your fire sprinkler system quickly if need be.
  • In the event your fire sprinkler system does break, turn off the fire sprinkler system at the first sign of a leak.
  • If your fire sprinkler system does break, the leaking typically will not occur until the outside temperature begins to warm up.
  • Turning off the fire sprinkler system after you notice a leak will help mitigate damage done to your home.   

HOW TO TURN OFF AND DRAIN YOUR FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEM IN THE EVENT OF LEAK

NOTE: THE FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEM WAS REQUIRED TO BE INSTALLED IN YOUR HOME BY YOUR MUNICIPALITY FOR SAFETY REASONS.

TURN OFF AND DRAIN THE SYSTEM ONLY IN THE EVENT A FIRE SPRINKLER PIPE BREAKS AND LEAKS. 

  • Locate the main control valve box and make sure it is easily accessible.  Typically, this box is in the utility room, but maybe in the garage. 
  • The control box will have two green valves located on the top and bottom of the back flow device.  To turn off the water to the system, turn the bottom green valve to the off position.  This will turn water off to the system. 
  • The system will then need to be drained so that the remaining water in the fire sprinkler system does not leak into your home. 
  •  To drain the system of water, find the test valve drain (which is not in the main control box but typically located in the master bedroom closet; however, it may be located in the garage or a secondary closet).  Open this valve, this will drain the remaining water in the system to the outside of your home.