Cold Weather Safety Tips
Cold Weather Tips
Our Public Works Department offers tips for protecting your home during freezing temperatures.
If a water line breaks and you do not know how to shut off the water at the main cut off, call the Town of Little Elm Public Works Department 24/7 at 972-377-5556.
Prevent Hazardous Conditions
Turn your sprinkler system OFF to prevent ice on roadways, sidewalks, and driveways.
Protect Your Pipes
- Remove garden hoses from outside faucets
- Insulate outside faucets with styrofoam covers, towels, or rags
- Wrap exposed outdoor pipes
- Open cabinet doors under sinks that are located on exterior walls
- Drip indoor faucets, approximately five drops per minute until temperatures warm up
- Cover vents around the foundation of your home
- If you're leaving your residence or business for an extended period, turn off the water at the main shut off valve and drain faucets
Tankless Hot Water Heater Care
- Check that all pipes located on the exterior of your home are covered in insulation, including those in your attic and garage
- Alternatively, you can turn off the heater at the control panel and leave a small amount of water running on the hot water side at a faucet
- Follow your heater's manufacturer's care and maintenance manual for recommended steps specific to your water heater
Winter Pool Care
- Make sure your pool has an adequate amount of water, as evaporation still occurs in the winter months
- Ensure your pool's freeze protector is working correctly to prevent broken pool equipment
- If your pool does not have a freeze protector, continuously run your filter until the freeze warnings have passed
Landscape Care
- Move outdoor potted plants inside.
- Cover young plants that are budding or flowering with frost cloth, sheets or towels
Heat Your Home Safely
If you plan to use a wood stove, fireplace, or space heater, be extremely careful. Follow the manufacturer's instructions and remember these safety tips:
- Turning on the stove for heat is not safe; have at least one of the following heat sources in case the power goes out
- Use extra blankets, sleeping bags, and warm winter coats
- Ensure your fireplace is up to code with plenty of dry firewood or a gas log fireplace
- Only use portable electric space heaters with automatic shut-off switches and non-glowing elements. Make sure to keep them away from any flammable materials, like curtains or blankets
- Use fireplaces, wood stoves, or other combustion heaters only if they are properly vented to the outside and do not leak gas from the flue or exhaust into the indoor air space
- Do not burn paper in a fireplace
- Keep heat sources, like space heaters, at least 3 feet away from drapes, furniture, or bedding. Never cover your space heater
- Never place a space heater on top of furniture or near water
- Never leave children unattended near a space heater
- Ensure that the cord of an electric space heater is not a tripping hazard, but do not run the cord under carpets or rugs
- Avoid using extension cords to plug in your space heater
- If your space heater has a damaged electrical cord or produces sparks, do not use it.
Light Your Home Safety
- If there is a power failure:
- Use battery-powered flashlights or lanterns rather than candles, if possible, as candles can lead to house fires
- If you do use candles, never leave lit candles unattended2
Additional Resources
NWSFortWorth: https://www.weather.gov/fwd/
CoServ Outage Map and Reporting: https://nrc4.coserv.com/maps/CoServOutageMap/
Texas Division of Emergency Management. https://tdem.texas.gov/
Denton County Emergency Management: https://www.dentoncounty.gov/266/Emergency-Management