Sand in the Coffee, Vol. 160: the freeze watch, and how to leave a second home ready for a cold night on the Gulf
The question every second-home owner asks the first time a cold snap is forecast: “It’s the Gulf Coast. Do I really have to do anything?”
Yes. Not much, but yes.
FOX10 reports a freeze watch in effect for parts of the Gulf Coast this weekend, with the potential for the first widespread freezing temperatures of the season. A watch means it’s possible, not promised, and I’m not going to guess at numbers. Check /beach-today/ and your own forecast for the real ones. But this coast is built for 90 degrees, and the plumbing in a lot of beach houses has never met a hard freeze. If you own here, rent here, or manage a place for someone who doesn’t live here, this is the cheap-insurance weekend.
the ten-minute walk-around
- Outdoor spigots first. Unhook the hose, drain it, and cover the spigot with a foam cover from the hardware store. That’s a few dollars against the most common cold-night failure.
- Outdoor shower. Shut off its supply if there is a valve, and drain what you can. Exposed pipes on stilts or against a wall are the first to go.
- Let a faucet drip. If a freeze really is forecast for your street, a slow drip on a faucet at the far end of the house keeps water moving. Cabinet doors open under sinks on outside walls help the warm air in.
- Pool and hot tub equipment. Know where your pump and the above-ground lines are. If you don’t, call the pool company today, not Sunday night.
- Potted plants and palms. Pull tender potted plants onto the porch against the house or indoors. Cover in-ground ones with a sheet, not plastic, and take it off in the morning.
- Heat set to a sane number. If the house is empty, leave the thermostat on rather than off. The electric bill is smaller than the plumber’s.
if you’re not here
Call the property manager or the neighbor who has your key, and ask for a photo of the spigot and a walk-through on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Locals do favors for each other this way all winter. A short thank-you text and a coffee gift card next time you’re in town goes a long way.
if you’re just visiting
Pack a real jacket and shoes that aren’t flip-flops. The beach is still the beach on a cold, clear morning, probably emptier than you’ll see it again until spring, and the cam at /live-cam/ will show you whether it’s worth the walk before you leave the kitchen. Orange Beach and the Key both do well in cold weather: the water looks darker, the light is lower, and nobody is fighting you for a parking spot.
the short version
Spigots, shower, drip, plants, thermostat, a text to whoever has your key. Done before dark Friday and you can enjoy the weekend, whatever the thermometer decides.
— Chris
P.S. If you run a place on the Key or in Orange Beach and it’s on this site, it’s yours to claim — free, always: /submit/claim/
