Don’t Let Cold Weather Catch You Unprepared

Cooler weather means it's time to winterize your home. SSWD offers the following tips to get your home and yard ready for winter.

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 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 – this valve turns off the water. The house valve may be located on a pipe coming up from the ground, typically connected to a hose bib in the front, side or back yard next to your house. Take the time to find it now and be sure everyone at your house knows where it is and what it does. For details on how to find your house valve, go to “Turning Off the Water to Your Home” under “Publications/Flyers and Brochures.”
   
   
5. Adjust irrigation timers to gradually reduce outdoor watering. Cooler weather means lawns and landscapes need less water. Even in hot summer months, three days a week is generally sufficient for established landscapes. During rainy months, you may be able to turn off your irrigation timer altogether.
   
   
6. Turn your irrigation system off when it rains. Better yet, install a rain sensor to automatically switch off your system when it's raining.
   
   
7. 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.
   
   
8. Insulate your hot water heater. If you have an older hot water heater, cover it with a hot water heater blanket. That will help retain heat and potentially save money on your energy bill.

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