Ah….well, I'd say if you lived in Siberia this might be a big concern but you should be fine.

That said, there is nothing wrong with an abundance of caution. It's only paranoia and crazy if it doesn't come to pass. Last this we got these hype/fear monger weather thing, many folks I knew didn't take it seriously and many folks I knew had a hell of a lot of damage. The time before that lack of paranoia had people waking up with 6' of water in their homes.

Scriffer said:

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BrazosDog02 said:

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Might I ask what difference it makes if the water freezes in the dirt? Let it drip!

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Like I said, paranoia. I'm legendary among friends for my cold weather neuroses.

The fear pounded into me by my boomer mother is that if the ground gets soaked, it'll freeze the main below it and blow everything to hell

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Do what you want, but it isn't going to freeze dirt to where your water main is, even wet dirt. Guy on the snowpocalypse thread said damp soil provides better insulation for plants than dry soil. I know theres a difference between wet/saturated and damp, but your underground water pipes aren't freezing no matter how wet the ground is. If it makes you feel better to put a tarp down then go ahead, tarp away.

We often water plants over head prior to a freeze. Chemistry and physics are amazing things.

Tested the Polar Valve last night. Was 30 and they were dripping fine this morning.
They'll get a workout this weekend.

Good to know! Thanks for the feedback!