Tips for Winterizing Your Home Indoors and Outdoors

According to information from the US Drought Monitor website, there has been less than an inch of rain in the Southern US in the past several weeks. Water restrictions have helped to combat shortages, but it’s important with the coming change of seasons to continue to care for your lawn, garden, and home. Here are some fall and winter water conservation tips to help your landscape weather the winter, and how to conserve water around the home.

Outdoors

–Cut back on watering. Over-watering in the fall can lead to disease.

–Avoid watering in the evening; fungal problems are more likely if plants are wet all night during fall months.

–Use organic mulch around winter plants, especially trees. It will help nourish the plants through the winter.

–Turn off irrigation and soaker hoses for lawns.

–Water only winter annuals and potted plants.

–Compost whenever possible.

–If you have an outdoor water feature, ask your landscape expert if you should shut it down for the winter. Pumps should not be allowed to freeze, so if your water feature includes flowing water, it’s a safe bet to shut down for the season.

–Trying to grow cool-season crops such as beets, lettuces, and spinach? Protect them from the cold with a frame made of inexpensive wire hoops and agricultural cloth.

–Prune plants as needed and clear debris.

Indoors

–Now is a good time to install water-efficient faucets. Look for aerators, flow regulators, and displacement devices to conserve water.

–Fix leaks. Besides wasting water, you’re much more likely to suffer frozen pipes if they’re in bad shape.

–Install pipe insulation to prevent damage from freezing.

–Fix exterior cracks to keep cold air from blowing into your home and on your pipes.

–Seal off crawl spaces and basements. Cover your vents with heavy-duty pieces of cardboard cut to fit the vents, duct taping the cardboard in place. Don’t forget to seal off access to the crawl space. If you have a basement, look for cracked basement windows that could allow cold air to make contact with pipes. Check for worn or missing insulation around garage and utility doors. Reducing the amount of cold air in the area minimizes your pipes’ vulnerability to freezing.

–Check your monthly water bill to track usage. Substantial increases in cost may mean that a leak is lurking in your home.

–Repair any broken doors, windows, and walls.

Learn more about the ultimate water conservation tool: a rainwater harvesting system for your home. It saves water and money, no matter the season! Visit our website to see our wide variety of systems ranging from a simple rain barrel to a complete underground cistern and pump system.