LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Ahead of the winter weather that's heading toward Kentuckiana later this week, city officials are warning residents that now's the perfect time to get your home, and your pipes, ready.
Louisville Water has a few suggestions to prevent frozen and burst pipes, which aren't the gifts of choice this holiday season.
Wrap exposed pipes
The company says you can purchase insulated materials from a hardware store to cover
Cover outside vents
If your home has a crawl space, be sure to cover the outside vents to prevent winter winds from getting in and freezing your pipes.
Close the garage door
Be sure to close the garage door too if your home has a slab foundation. Some water pipes are located under concrete floors in the garage.
Run the water!
During extreme cold weather, officials say it's a good idea to run a small, steady stream of water from a cold water faucet in an area of the home where pipes are exposed or have froze in the past.
Locate your shutoff valve
Regardless of the weather, locate your home's water shutoff valve. This valve controls the flow of water into your house. Louisville Water says its 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," officials said.
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