SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – The residents of Central Florida were met with an unusually chilly morning on Sunday, with temperatures in Seminole County plummeting to the low 20s. This cold snap saw cities like Sanford breaking decades-old temperature records, leaving locals scrambling to protect their homes from the frigid weather.
Among those preparing for the unexpected chill was Dave, a Seminole County resident who shared his experience with News 6. Equipped with a thermal-imaging camera, Dave documented his efforts to safeguard his home against the cold, providing viewers with a firsthand look at his preventive measures.
One of Dave’s key tactics involved an outdoor faucet, which he intentionally left dripping slowly overnight. This simple yet effective measure is crucial in preventing pipes from freezing, especially when temperatures hover below freezing for an extended period. Prolonged exposure to such cold conditions can cause water in pipes to freeze and expand, leading to potential bursts, particularly in plumbing systems that are closer to the surface and unprotected.
By allowing the faucet to drip, Dave ensured that the water continued to circulate, significantly minimizing the risk of it freezing within the pipes. His thermal camera footage revealed that while the faucet was indeed cold, it remained above the critical freezing point of 32 degrees Fahrenheit, proving the effectiveness of his strategy.
This rare cold spell served as a stark reminder of the importance of taking preventive steps to protect one’s home during extreme weather conditions, even in regions unaccustomed to such low temperatures.
The video shows that while the faucet is still pretty cold by most standards, it’s also staying above that freezing temperature of 32, a job well done.
Next, Dave walks over to a plant that he wrapped in preparation for the freezing cold.
The video shows the plant holding onto heat invisible to the naked eye. Tilting down, the camera captures a glowing mass of tendrils indicative that the plant is holding on to heat with its root system.
Hidden survival methods aside, many plants need all the help they can get with weather this cold. As a general rule of thumb, just a couple hours or more in temperatures below 30 degrees can severely damage if not kill tender plants and a hard freeze of 25 degrees or colder can just kill them outright.
It’s recommended to cover plants the prior afternoon or evening, and keep in mind that some plants — like Brussels sprouts — can actually tolerate temperatures as low as 20 degrees, so treat different plants as according to their needs.
Turning to more water-related preps, Dave shows us a sink that he left running, as well as his pool.
In the sink, the running water makes for a drastic temperature difference, with the faucet some 40 degrees warmer than its surroundings. The same can be said for Dave’s pool, which he kept above freezing while even the deck surrounding it fell well below 30 degrees.
Whether you have an in-ground pool like Dave, or one above ground, it’s recommended to keep it running when it gets this cold. Just like with the dripping faucets, running water is just far less likely to freeze overnight. A possible option is to set your pool pump to automatically turn on when temperatures fall below 40 degrees.
Watch Dave’s video in the player at the top of this story.
Submit pictures of your cold-weather preps to News 6 with PinIt!
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