HOUSTON — Houstonians made last-minute hardware store runs Saturday to get supplies needed ahead of the Arctic blast.
“It seems like no matter how much you prepare, something can go wrong,” said Brian Simmons who was shopping at C&D Hardware & Gifts.
For the past two years, Simmons said he’s had different experiences with the Houston cold snaps.
“2021 winter we did fine but last December it was, I believe we had two pipes burst and I had actually taken precautions,” Simmons said.
Another C&D customer said he was prepping his rental property in the Heights, buying pipe insulation. Meanwhile, he is also taking precautions around his primary residence.
“I went ahead and drained that [sprinkler system] today, cut off the water to it because it seems every time you get a freeze that little bell thing pops off the top of the sprinkler system, so hopefully not this time,” Matt Reynolds said.
C&D owner Duane Myers said this year, many people made their preparations more than a week ahead of the Arctic front.
“Normally it's last minute, you run out of everything, but I’m proud of Houston, we’ve learned a couple hard lessons over the last few years, and they’re doing a good job so far,” he said.
Myers said he got a lot of people to ask about plant covers, which they sold out, but he said they might receive another shipment on Monday.
If you haven’t shopped for supplies, you can use items around the house to protect fixtures like outside faucets.
“If you can’t find a faucet cover, wrap your faucet really well with a towel, and put a garbage bag over it and tape that very well,” Myers said.
Myers recommends waiting right before the freeze to put a cover over your plants.