The Village reminds residents and business owners to be cautious and take steps to avoid their water lines from freezing during extreme temperatures forecast for next week.  With temperatures dropping to single digits or below, it is important to make sure your home is protected.  Some homes in the village have their water meters in a crawl space or in close proximity of an outside wall. Some townhome developments were built with a “meter closet” which contain all the meters for each owner/occupant of that building. In many cases during these extremely cold temperatures and wind chills, these spaces and closets do not stay warm enough to keep the pipes/meters from freezing.

Residents and business owners should always keep the thermostat set the same during both the daytime and night. Open cabinet doors to allow heat to get to pipes under sinks (especially if it is on an outside wall). Seal air leaks coming into your home near any water pipes with caulk or insulation. Insulate pipes near any source of cold air coming into your home. If your pipes are susceptible to freezing you should leave water moving through the pipes by letting a faucet drip or trickle slightly. Moving water helps prevent pipes and meters from freezing.

Do not leave your garden hose hooked up to your outside faucet in winter. This can trap water in the valve portion of your faucet outside, which can freeze and burst causing a leak and potential damage to your home.  If you plan to leave town or be away from your home or business for an extended period of time, you should always leave the heat set above 55 degrees and have a friend or neighbor check your house/business daily to make sure the heat is sufficient to prevent freezing.