Brrr – It’s Cold Outside!
Get Ready for Winter Weather

Cooler weather means it’s time to winterize your home.  Reduce your winter worries by taking a few simple precautions to prepare your home and yard for winter.  Here are some tips from SSWD and the American Water Works Association.

1. Disconnect and drain outdoor hoses.  Cold weather can crack or split hoses left outside.  Detach and drain all water from the hose(s).  Store the hose(s) in a garage or shed.
2. Consider insulating outdoor faucets/hose bibs and connected piping.  An overnight freeze can cause a burst in either the outdoor faucet or the pipe to which it is connected.  Consider wrapping the faucet and pipe or cover it entirely.  Covers that completely encapsulate the faucet and connecting pipe are available at hardware or building supply stores.
3. Insulate water pipes or faucets in unheated areas.  If you have pipelines in an unheated garage or crawl space beneath the house, wrap the water pipes before temperatures plummet.  Hardware or building supply stores have pipe insulating and wrapping materials available.
4. Locate your house valve.  If a pipe bursts anywhere in the house – kitchen, bath, ceiling or crawl space – the house valve turns off the water.  The house valve is likely located on a pipe coming up from the ground next to your house, typically connected to a hose bib in the front, side or back yard. 
5. Drain your pool’s solar heating system.  If your pool is heated by a solar heating system, drain the lines that circulate the pool water in your solar heater.  Check the manufacturer’s instructions to determine if your system can be turned off and drained without damage to your solar heating system.
6. Insulate your hot water heater.  If you have an older hot water heater, cover it with a hot water heater blanket. This will help retain heat and potentially save money on your energy bill.

Take a few moments to get ready for winter at your house.