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Although winter is not officially here, we’ve experienced several days of arctic air and our first snow of the season! With the overnight low-temperatures forecasted to be near or below freezing (32 degrees), it’s important to think about making sure your home is winter-ready. The cold blast can lead to frozen pipes or worse, pipes that burst and cause a giant mess.
Every year during extreme cold weather, Louisville Water receives calls from customers whose internal water lines have frozen and/or burst. While we don’t maintain your internal plumbing, we can show you ways to prepare your home and offer tips to try to avoid those costly headaches.
First, try to eliminate the amount of cold air coming into your home around water pipes.
- Wrap exposed pipes with insulating material which you can buy at a hardware store.
- If your home has a crawl space, cover the outside vents to prevent winter winds from freezing the pipes. Remember to turn off outside faucets and disconnect garden hoses.
- If your house has a slab foundation, close the garage door. Some water pipes are located under concrete floors in the garage.
During extreme cold weather, we suggest running a small, steady stream of water from a cold-water faucet in an area of the home where pipes are exposed or have frozen in the past. The water flow will help prevent the water from freezing. Open cabinet doors to allow heat to circulate around the pipes.
Finally, you should know where your main water shutoff valve is located. This valve controls the flow of water into your house. It’s usually located near the water heater, in the basement, or in a utility closet. Turning off the water in the event of a burst pipe can minimize the damage. Once you find the valve, tag it with a waterproof hanger or a ribbon. Louisville Water provides free tags for customers at its downtown office on Third Street. If you need one, simply ask a customer agent when you visit us to pay your bill!
Pure Tap pro-tip: it’s a good idea to be aware of your normal water usage. This information is helpful when you see an unexpected increase from one billing cycle to the next. We’ve made it easier to track your usage in the Pure Connect℠ portal. You can also sign up for alerts in case of unusual activity, which could indicate a leak.
ICYMI: Louisville Water recently launched the WaterPro Water Leak Protection Plan℠, an affordable service available to homeowners across Louisville and several surrounding counties. Nearly one in five Louisville Water customers experiences a water leak each year, leading to unexpected and costly water bills. WaterPro provides financial relief from excess water charges caused by undetected leaks—charges that most homeowners’ insurance policies do not cover.
