Weather

The Four P’s of Cold Weather Safety

Preparing For Freezing Weather

  1. Disconnect hoses and drain them
  2. Cover outdoor spigots with faucet covers or freeze caps
  3. Insulate pipes and faucets in unheated areas such as an attic or garage
  4. If you have a sprinkler system, follow the winterization protocol from your manufacturer. This typically involved disconnecting the water or using a shut-off valve, then manually draining the water from your system. Once complete, set the timer to “off.”
  5. Mulch garden beds with 2-3 inches of mulch to protect plant roots. Move potted plants indoors
  6. Set your thermostat to a minimum of 60° when outside temperatures are below freezing
  7. Shut off your water at night and drain the water from your pipes before going to bed, then turn the water back on in the AM when temperatures rise above freezing. Alternately, drip your faucets during the coldest hours (20° F)
  8. Leave cabinet doors open under sinks to allow warm air to circulate around your pipes. Check for any gaps where the pipes penetrate your walls and fill these gaps with spray foam Or use hand towels to plug these gaps
  9. Check for air leaks. Look for gaps under your doors and either add a door sweep or use towels and blankets to plug the gap temporarily
  10. Change batteries in your smoke & carbon monoxide detectors

Hints for a Freeze

According to the National Weather Service, a Hard Freeze occurs when the temperature reaches 28 degrees, or lower, for at least four hours. There are several ways to protect the pipes in your home, but the graphics below give instructions on how to drain the internal plumbing, and how to winterize and drain your irrigation system. Additional instructions to protect your pipes are:

  1. Unhook any outdoor water hoses attached to your faucets.
  2. Wrap outdoor pipes and faucets with foam, rags, or other insulating material. To keep the insulation in place, secure it with string, wire, or tape.
  3. Install insulation or covers over outside water faucets.
  4. Open cabinet doors under your sinks to provide warm air circulation.
  5. Circulate water in your home by allowing at least one sink to drip.
  6. Keep the temperature of your home above 55 degrees.