We’ve all heard it before: when water freezes, it expands — and that can lead to burst pipes, costly damage, and major headaches. The good news? With a few simple steps, you can protect your home and property before a freeze hits.
How to Winterize Your Home:
- Wrap exposed pipes from the ground up to outdoor faucets. Use faucet covers, rags, foam insulation, trash bags, or even towels. If you act now, foam wraps are still available at most hardware stores (before the rush).
- Cover vents around your home’s foundation to block cold air from entering.
- Disconnect and store hoses in the garage — don’t leave them attached to outdoor faucets.
- Open kitchen and bathroom cabinets during cold snaps to allow warm air to circulate around indoor pipes.
- Protect outdoor electrical pumps — If you have a pool, either drain the lines or run the motor periodically (short bursts only — long runs can damage the pump).
- Going out of town? Consider turning off the main water valve and opening faucets to drain water from the pipes. This helps prevent any freezing damage while you’re away.
Don’t Forget Your Irrigation System. Your sprinkler system also needs attention before a freeze. Be sure to:
- Insulate your backflow preventer — that brass device sticking up a foot or two above ground. Wrap it with an old towel, foam, or insulation, and secure it with duct tape.
- Check for above-ground valves and pipes — These are especially vulnerable. Insulate or drain them as needed.
- Drain the system (if it has a manual or automatic drain valve), especially if a hard freeze is predicted. Standing water in pipes can freeze and lead to cracking or leaks.