We’re expecting a hard freeze tonight. Please remember to bring people, pets and plants indoors.

Helpful hints to protect your pipes from freezing:

1 .Protect all outside exposed water lines. Shut off valves including outside water faucet hose bibs, water lines for water softeners and other water treatment equipment, pool equipment and/or sprinkler irrigation back flow preventers. All valves need to be completely protected not just the water piping. You can use foam wrap, a blanket, a towel or insulation tape.

2. Insulate both hot and cold water pipes. A hot water supply line can freeze just as fast as a cold water supply line if water is not running through the pipe.

3. A light bulb burning during the freeze in your pump house, or exterior closet can furnish enough heat to protect water equipment from a typical freeze.

4. Keep garage doors closed tightly if there are water supply lines in the garage. Or cover the pipes with a blanket or a towel.

5. Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors and all other cabinet areas that are located on outside walls. This allows warmer air to circulate around the plumbing. Be sure to take all child safety measures that are necessary in your home, such as cleaning supplies.

6. During cold snaps, do not alternate temperature settings on your thermostat. Keeping your thermostat set to the same temperature during the day and night will help keep pipe temperatures consistent. If you are leaving for an extended period of time, set your thermostats no lower than 60F.

7. Open the attic access doors or stairs to allow warm air to circulate if water pipes are in the attic.

8. To keep your backflow preventer from freezing: turn off the incoming and both test ports having screw driver stops need to be turned to bleed the test ports down. Then insulate the above ground pipes.

9. To keep your pool filters, pumps and pipes from freezing: Run your pool equipment during the freeze. Change your timers to run the pool equipment at night and keep the equipment running if freezing temperatures continue into the day.