The Henry County Water Authority (HCWA) encourages residents to weatherize their homes to prevent freezing water lines, which can cause pipe bursts and leaks, as well as property damage.
Some simple preventative measures can go a long way in saving water and money when freezing temperatures become the norm this winter.
The HCWA offers the following weatherization tips for residents and businesses to consider this winter:
•Insulate pipes, either with wraps or tapes, making sure to locate all pipes that pass through unheated spaces or areas exposed to the outdoors.
•Consider adding or supplementing insulation to water heaters.
•Drain irrigation systems, since the tips of sprinkler heads and portions of sprinkler systems often continue to hold water, even when inactive.
•Disconnect garden hoses from all outdoor water faucets (spigots), allowing water to drain completely, and store hoses in a place with consistent (warmer) temperatures.
•If a faucet is not frost free, find the shut-off valve where the pipe feeds the faucet outside of the home or building and turn it off, prior to opening the outside faucet until it drains completely. Spigot covers also can help protect outdoor faucets from freezing temperatures.
•Winterize air conditioning units as well, by draining all air conditioner pipes and hoses.
•Remove window air conditioning units and insulate those areas accordingly.
•Clean gutters, so winter rains and melting snow can drain.
•When leaving the home or office for an extended period of time, turn the temperature down to 55 degrees – rather than turning the heat completely off – to prevent problems, from freezing temperatures, such as frozen air conditioner lines.
•Should a pipe burst due to freezing or under any other circumstances, always know how to shut off the main water line servicing the home or office building.
In addition to encouraging its customers to weatherize their homes and businesses to prevent potential pipe bursts and water leaks from freezing temperatures, the HCWA also invites anglers to take advantage of select weekends for winter fishing.
Winter fishing at HCWA recently began at the Tussahaw Reservoir and it will be open to permitted guests during the weekends of January 18-20, and February 15-17.
HCWA customers, Henry County residents or property owners, can obtain a reservoir use permit for $45. These permits allow access to the Tussahaw during its hours of operation for fishing, boating (with an electric or trolling motor), canoeing and kayaking, and they are valid for one calendar year from the date of purchase. Permit holders also can bring a guest for free.
Reservoir use permit holders can access the Tussahaw Reservoir Public Use Area and Boat Ramp on Collins Way off of Peeksville Road, with maps and registration forms available at the Authority Headquarters. The 2019 HCWA Regular Fishing Season opens March 1.
For more information on public fishing, as well as weatherization tips and other public education topics, citizens can contact the HCWA at 770-957-6659, or log onto the utility’s Website at www.hcwa.com.
