BRRRRR!

BRRRR! Bundle up-and protect your water pipes from cold! With plummeting temperatures predicted later this week, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities encourages customers to protect their plumbing in a home or business. Taking steps now can prevent burst water pipes and costly repairs later. A complete list of tips is available at www.cmutilities.com, but some simple ones include: . Insulating exposed pipes in unheated areas. Pipe wrapping material is available at your local hardware. . Sealing any openings and air leaks in your crawl space or basement. Use cardboard, plastic or newspaper to seal air vents if necessary. . Open doors on cabinets below sinks to allow warmer room air to circulate around plumbing at night. . Disconnect garden hoses from outdoor spigots. . Unplug automatic lawn sprinkler systems if you have one. Irrigation line breaks and sprinklers spraying onto sidewalks and roadways will quickly lead to serious public safety hazards. . If you own a backflow prevention assembly, contact Utilities backflow staff at 704.399.2426 for tips on properly winterizing your system. Frozen pipes in Charlotte-Mecklenburg are typically infrequent unless temperatures dip far below freezing for extended periods. It's always a great idea to be prepared!