How to protect your faucets before the winter storm, with a Whataburger cup hack
A major winter blast is on the way in Texas, and plumbers say outdoor faucets are one of the first things to freeze when temperatures fall into the teens.
If a faucet freezes, the ice can push back into your plumbing system and cause a pipe to burst inside your walls.
That’s why state agencies and plumbing experts are urging Texans to insulate those outdoor spigots before the storm arrives.
And because it is Texas, residents are getting creative. One post from A Whataburger cup hack is circulating online, showing people sliding foam drink cups over their faucets to add insulation.
One user called the hack “peak Texas.”
So what is the right way to protect your pipes, and is the Whataburger trick actually worth trying?
Here’s what to know.
Why should I cover my outdoor faucets?
Outdoor spigots are one of the most vulnerable spots in a freeze. Cold air can reach the exposed metal and quickly freeze the water sitting inside.
Frisco-based Trident Plumbing explains that when temperatures drop to single digits, outdoor faucets can give freezing air a direct path into your plumbing system.
The company warns that unprotected faucets can allow ice to travel further into the home. They note that ice pressure can build up fast and lead to a burst pipe inside walls or ceilings.
What should I use to cover my faucets?
The Texas Department of Insurance says the simplest protection is a faucet cover, which you can find at most home improvement stores like Home Depot, Lowe’s or Walmart.
TDI recommends insulating outdoor faucets rather than letting them drip. Their guidance explains that if you do not have a faucet cover, you can wrap the faucet with a towel and secure it with tape.
The agency also reminds Texans that wrapping the faucet matters because insulation helps block freezing air. They suggest checking covers before temperatures fall to make sure they fit tightly.
Does the viral Whataburger cup hack actually help?
Texas being Texas, people have been slipping Whataburger Styrofoam cups over their faucets as a substitute for real faucet covers.
The joke took off online, but the science behind it checks out for a quick fix.
“Styrofoam is full of tiny air bubbles that act as insulation, the same reason it keeps your coffee hot and also helps keep freezing air out,” Harris County Constable Mark Herman wrote in a Facebook post.
If you want to try the hack at home, his office also shared simple instructions on how to use a cup correctly.
Here’s how to secure the cup over your faucet, according to the post.
- Poke a small hole in the bottom of the cup.
- Run a rubber band or piece of cord through the hole.
- Use a pen, pencil or small stick inside the cup to keep the band from slipping out.
- Stretch the rubber band over the faucet until it snaps securely in place.
For extra insulation, Herman’s office says you can stack a few cups together before securing them.
Experts still recommend real insulation whenever possible, but they acknowledge that a foam cup is better than leaving a faucet uncovered.
How do I install a faucet cover correctly?
If you want to skip the cup hack and use a real faucet cover, Trident Plumbing explains how to install one the right way.
The company recommends disconnecting all hoses and attachments before covering the faucet so the insulated cover fits tightly over the spigot and keeps freezing air out.
“Nothing is one hundred percent effective when dealing with extreme temps, such as the sub-zero temperatures we experienced in February, but they certainly can help decrease the likelihood,” the company wrote.
Trident also encourages homeowners to know where their water shut off valve is located in case a pipe freezes or leaks. They say turning off the water quickly can reduce the amount of damage if something does burst.
