Winter Can Be a Difficult Time for Home Water Systems
Winter can be an especially rough time for water-based appliances. It is important to make sure that your home is prepared for the cold weather ahead, which is why the Hicksville Water District (HWD) would like to remind residents of some easy steps they can take to ensure that their home water system is prepared for the winter ahead.
“Freezing temperatures can be detrimental to home water systems, especially outdoor appliances,” said HWD Chairman William Schuckmann. “Luckily, there are a number of simple things that our residents can do to ensure that their systems make it through the winter. Additionally, although peak pumpage season is well behind us, we encourage our residents to do everything they can to save water during the coldest months of the year as well.”
Residents should make sure to insulate water pipes, especially hot water pipes, for decreased run time and less of a wait for your water to get hot. If pipes do freeze, running them until the blockage melts is not the most efficient option. Instead, appliances such as hair dryers can provide slow, even heat coverage to defrost pipes.
Some other measures you can take to ensure that your home is prepared for the winter include:
- Draining outside faucets and turn off outside water to prevent freezing and breaks
- Checking your water meter pit cover to make sure that it is securely bolted down and that the cover is intact with a waterproof seal
- Draining and turning off your sprinkler systems to prevent possible leaks and damage to the system
Although peak water pumpage season takes place during the warmer months of the year due to increased lawn irrigation, it is still crucial that residents conserve water during the fall and winter. Here are some changes that HWD customers can make to save water indoors:
- Only run your dishwasher at a full load, as dishwashers use the same amount of water regardless of load size. This could save over 1,000 gallons of water per month for each individual household.
- Take shorter showers.
- Only use your washing machine with full loads.
- Always know where you master shutoff valve is located and make sure it is in good working condition.
Switching to more water-efficient toilets, showerheads and washing machines can also make a significant difference in any home’s water use. When making the switch, residents should check for Energy Star-approved or WaterSense-labeled devices.
Finally, the HWD encourages residents to download the EyeOnWater app. This service provides up-to-the-hour updates on a home’s water usage. This is not only a great way to monitor how much water one is using, but it can also help indicate if there are any leaks around the house by showing unusually-large spikes in water use.
