This winter, make protecting your pipes a priority!

Whether you love a winter wonderland or would rather hibernate, one thing we can all agree on is that winterizing our pipes is a priority since the bitter cold winter air can bring unwanted disasters in your home.

“Every winter, we get calls from customers with frozen pipes, which is not only inconvenient and frustrating, but it can be very expensive to clean up and repair,” said Brenda Wall, Director of Operations, Liberty New York Water. “We want to encourage all of our customers to take some time to winterize their homes and familiarize themselves with the additional tips for extended freezes to protect their home’s plumbing. It will save both time and money.”

Liberty recommends several easy steps customers can take, inside and outside the home, to help prevent pipes from freezing and bursting during the cold months heading our way.

Indoor tips:

• Keep the temperature in your home at no less than 55 degrees.
• Wrap your pipes with insulation.
• If pipes run through cabinets, leave the cabinet doors open to let warmer air in.
• During periods of an extended freeze, let a small trickle of water flow to keep the water running through the pipes.
• Fix drafty windows and doors to avoid cold air hitting the pipes.

Outdoor tips:

• Ensure sprinkler systems are turned off and drained.
• Know the location of your main water valve and how to turn it off.
• Disconnect all hoses and drain water remaining in faucets.
• Cover or insulate outdoor faucets.
• Check any water lines leading to unheated structures.
• Insulate or wrap heat tape around any exposed pipes.
• Keep your garage door shut to keep the cold air out.

“For most homes, these steps take a short time to complete,” said Wall, “but the potential savings are immense. We want to do anything we can to help our customers prevent unwanted damage and expenses.”

To learn more about how to insulate pipes, visit libertyenergyandwater.com