Now Is The Time To Winterize!

Excerpt from the October 2023 "Quality on Tap!" article from the South Dakota Association of Rural Water Systems:

Taking a little time and the proper steps to winterize your home - and especially your pipes - in preparation for the cold and snow, you can save yourselt time and money, and unnecessary heartache.

Insulate your pipes:  Pipes brusting in winter are a homeowner's worst nightmare.  Insulate pipes in areas of your home that are not well heated - such as crawl spaces and attics.  Wrap them with pre-molded foam rubber sleeves or fiberglass insulation - both can be found in your local hardware store.  Another option is to install heat tape - which is basically a special electrical cord that is wrapped around your pipes and emits heat.  Make sure it is UL-approved heat tapes to prevent a fire.

Know where your master shut-off and service line valves are located:  If there is an emergency, you will need to know where your master shut off valve is in a hurry.  Find your water meter locaction, the shut off valve should be close by on the input line of the meter.

Disconnect outside hoses and faucets:  It is very important to disconnect and drain your outside hoses and sprinklers.

Seal outside openings and cracks:  This will prevent cold air from penetrating your home. 

Clean your gutters:  Gutters clogged with leaves and debris can form ice dams, that can cause water to seep into your house and cause damage.