LOUISIANA, USA — We have your weekend winterization checklist.
First up: Plants.
You can protect tender plants by moving them inside or into a garage. If they can’t be moved, cover them in plastic or sheets all the way to the ground to trap in heat. The LSU Ag Center says you should also water your container plants, because water is an insulator. Wet soil keeps plants warmer than dry soil.
Next: Pipes.
Drain and disconnect any hoses or sprinkler lines. Wrap outside faucets in foam or pipe insulation.
If you don’t have any foam or insulation, you can use some old fabric or newspaper and plastic bags.
You’ll also need to wrap up the pipes under your home if you’re not on a slab.
For some extra protection, you can open the cabinet doors under bathroom and kitchen sinks to allow warm air to circulate. You can also run a spaghetti-size stream of water from the faucet furthest from the street to keep water moving.
If you have to leave your home, keep your thermostat set to a minimum of 55 degrees. And it’s not a bad idea to know where your main water supply turn-off is just in case a pipe bursts.
We also have to think of our pets and people when it gets this cold. Cats and dogs should be kept inside.
Now is also a good time to check on your loved ones and your neighbors. See if they need any help winterizing their home.
Lastly, make sure they – and you – are using space heaters plugged directly into the wall and far from flammable objects.
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