CORPUS CHRISTI, Tx \u2014 As temperatures drop, homeowners across the Coastal Bend are preparing for a winter freeze.<\/p>\n
Our KRIS 6 Weather team has forecasted the season’s first freeze, and with a drop in temperatures, experts says it can cause serious damage if your home isn’t prepared.<\/p>\n
“I feel like once it actually starts to freeze, we’ll have an influx of people buying stuff last minute,” Cason Blair, Assistant Manager, said.<\/p>\n
Cason Blair is the assistant manager at McCoy’s Building Supply. He says one of the biggest risks during a freeze is what homeowners can’t see.<\/p>\n
Coastal Bend prepares for first freeze as experts warn of costly pipe damage without preparation<\/p>\n
“Water freezes in the pipes and it might cause a catastrophe if it pops,” Blair said.<\/p>\n
With a light freeze forecasted on New Year’s Eve, KRIS 6 Weather team says it can kill tender plants, and freeze exposed outdoor pipes and sprinkler systems.<\/p>\n
But when a hard freeze is forecasted Blair says that is when pipes could burst. Water could quickly spread through walls, floors, and yards turning a cold night into a costly problem.<\/p>\n
“The outside floods and your water bill goes astronomically high,” Blair said.<\/p>\n
Blair says simple steps can help lower that risk, including keeping water moving and protecting outdoor faucets.<\/p>\n
He walked me through the store, showing me the most common items customers pick up before a freeze.<\/p>\n
“Faucet covers. Faucet protectors,” Blair said.<\/p>\n
And says preparing early can save homeowners from major headaches \u2014 and expensive repairs \u2014 once temperatures drop.<\/p>\n
“Maybe less than $50 and that’s kinda overestimating it,” Blair said.<\/p>\n
Experts warn waiting too long can be costly. They say you have up to 24 hours to prepare before a freeze, or you could be left paying hundreds \u2014 even thousands \u2014 of dollars in damages.<\/p>\n
“This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.”<\/p>\n
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