BBRRRR! Bundle up - and protect your water pipes from extreme cold Taking steps now can help prevent burst water pipes and costly repairs, especially when temperatures dip well below freezing for extended periods of time.
Insulate pipes in unheated parts of your home and save on energy costs by insulating your water heater. Insulation materials are available at local hardware stores.
Seal any openings and air leaks in crawl space or basement. Use cardboard, plastic or newspaper to seal air vents if necessary.
Open doors on cabinets below sinks to allow warmer room air to circulate around plumbing at night.
Be sure garden hoses are disconnected from outdoor spigots.
Unplug automatic lawn sprinkler systems. Irrigation line breaks and sprinklers spraying onto sidewalks and roadways will quickly lead to serious public safety hazards and expensive repairs. If you must irrigate your lawn this time of year, do so during daylight hours when temperatures are well above freezing.
Locate the master water shut-off valve in your home now in case you experience a burst pipe, and need to cut off your water in a hurry.
Make sure the water meter box in your yard remains properly in place to keep cold air from freezing water inside the meter. If for any reason your water meter cover is damaged or missing, contact Charlotte Water by dialing 311.
Protect Your Irrigation System & Backflow Device (if you have one) Codes require certain types of commercial and residential water customers - those with irrigation systems, for example - to install and maintain backflow prevention assemblies at their connection. It’s important to protect your equipment from cold weather damage that can cause system leaks and high water bills.
Prepare your backflow device for winter (best completed by December):
The best way to prevent freezing on an irrigation backflow connection is to drain the assembly of all water for the winter. Turn off your irrigation system at the shut-off valve and drain system, open test cocks and Shut-off valves on the assembly to discharge any water. Leave valves open 1/8 of a turn! Fully Open or Fully Closed will trap water behind the ball in the valve and that will leave the valve susceptible to freezing and damage to the valve.
Whether your device/connection remains in use for the winter, be sure the backflow cover fits securely to the ground to prevent air infiltration. Check your cover for any cracks, holes, splits, etc.
Wrap old blankets or beach towels around the assembly for temporary protection during the peak of the cold temperatures.
