Winter Preparations

Fall is here and work for the coming winter has now begun. Here are a few tips to help you better prepare for that coming cold (possibly freezing) weather.

Winterizing your Home by protecting your Pipes

Pipes that go unprotected can freeze and burst with time. Broken pipes can cost thousands of dollars to replace. Avoid unnecessary costs by caring for your pipes properly in cold weather.

To start, identify any water hoses that may be hooked up. These hoses that are filled with water should be removed and emptied and put away during the freezing weather.

Next, outside faucets or piping can be protected from cold weather with heat tape or pipe insulation. You can purchase either product from any local hardware store. Wrap the tape or insulation around exposed outdoor pipes and this should be enough to keep your faucets from freezing. If you have an outdoor pump system, even if it’s in a shed, it could still freeze up and cause problems if the weather is well below freezing. Use a heat lamp in the late evening hours to prevent freezing.

Winterizing your sprinkler system and piping

To start, turn off the water to the irrigation system at the main valve.

Next, set the automatic irrigation controller to the “rain” setting or turn off the controller altogether. Turn on each of the valves for the various zones to release pressure in the pipes. Lastly, drain all of the water out of any irrigation components that might freeze.