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Winter Weather Preparation
*Check sprinkler of irrigation systems- Make sure you've turned everything off and fully drained the system.
*Identify your home's freezing points- Check your home for pipes in areas that might be prone to freezing, unheated rooms, basements, garages, and exterior walls.
*Know how to shut off your water- Locate your main water shut-off valve. You may want to tag or label it so you don't have to search for it in an emergency.
*Strengthen your defenses- Eliminate sources of cold air near water lines by closing off crawl spaces, fixing drafty windows, insulating walls and attics, and plugging drafts around doors.
*Prevent pipes from freezing- Allow a small trickle of water to run overnight to keep pipes from freezing. Consider collecting the water for later use.
*Keep your pipes warm- Open cabinet doors to expose pipes to warmer room temperatures to help keep them from freezing.
BUT IF YOUR PIPES DO FREEZE:
*Shut off the water immediately- Don't attempt to thaw pipes without turning off the main shut-off valve.
*Thaw pipes with warm air- You can melt the frozen water in the pipe by warming the air around it with a hair dryer or space heater. Be sure not to leave space heaters unattended and avoid the use of kerosene heaters or open flames.
*Be careful turning water back on- Once pipes are thawed, slowly turn the water back on and check pipes and joints for any cracks or leaks that might have been caused by freezing.
