Freezing Temperature Home Protection Tips
With freezing temperatures approaching, here’s a reminder to protect your property from potential damage:
Immediate Actions:
- Disconnect and cover outdoor hoses.
- Remove hoses from hose bibs and cover them to prevent freezing and bursting.
- Protect plumbing on exterior walls.
- Open cabinet doors to allow warm air to circulate around pipes.
- Switch water heaters off the heat pump setting. If your HVAC is not heating effectively, use the "Emergency" setting.
- Storage room precautions.
- Storage rooms are insulated from the cold, but if your water heater is not heating adequately, consider changing its setting.
- Cold weather, combined with the way a heat pump operates, may not provide sufficient hot water during extremely low temperatures.
- As a temporary measure, place a non-LED light in the storage room and turn it on to generate heat.
- These precautions can help prevent damage when temperatures drop below 20 degrees for more than a day.
Additional Tips to Protect Your Home
As temperatures drop, it’s crucial to winterize your home to prevent potential plumbing damage. Freezing temperatures can cause leaks, water damage, and increased water bills. Use these helpful tips to safeguard your pipes:
- Insulate exposed pipes in attics, basements, and crawl spaces.
- Use insulated spigot covers on outdoor faucets.
- When traveling, set your thermostat to at least 55°F to prevent freezing.
- Keep cabinet doors open to allow warm air to circulate around plumbing.
Winterizing your home is an effective way to protect your property and conserve water resources. For more water-saving tips, visit DWRConserve.com.
