With cooler temperatures comes pumpkin spice lattes, falling leaves, and the risk for freezing pipes. Below are a few helpful tips to prepare for the upcoming winter season.
Only rain down the drain
Cleaning up fallen leaves in your yard can be daunting. However, residents should never blow or rake leaves, twigs, branches, grass clippings, trash or debris into the street. Doing so can result in clogged storm drains, flooded streets, and ice buildups. Leaves are also a significant source of phosphorus and other nutrients in stormwater which can lead to harmful algal blooms.
Tips for leaf disposal:
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Rake/Blow leaves into a pile, bag them, and then toss them in with your trash.
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Set your mower to mulch and let the leaves fertilize your lawn naturally.
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Compost the leaves.
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If you see a storm drain that is clogged and can clear it without placing yourself in danger, please remove the leaves. Use a rake to help you reach the leaves without entering the street. Residents are not expected to work in the road to remove leaves.
Recycle your leaves and pumpkins with us
Westminster residents can recycle bags of leaves and pumpkins on Saturday, November 12 at 10001 Alkire St. from 8 a.m. to noon. Please bring leaves in bags; plastic bags will be emptied and returned to the resident, and compostable bags or paper bags can be put in the bin, as is. Staff is on-site to facilitate the event. No other debris is accepted in the leaf recycling bins.
Pumpkins must be free of paint and decorations including candles.
Please remember that branches are not allowed in the leaf pile, and can be dropped off in the limb pile only.
Is your irrigation system ready for winter?
Frozen pipes are preventable! Make sure you've winterized sprinkler systems, closed and drained valves supplying outdoor faucets, and disconnected outdoor hoses before the first hard freeze. Water left in your irrigation lines may freeze, expand and break your pipes. If you need assistance, consider hiring an irrigation professional to shut off and blow out irrigation lines.
Tips to prevent pipes inside your home from freezing:
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Locate your water service shutoff valve. You want to be able to quickly shut off water to minimize damage if a pipe bursts. The shutoff valve is where your water line enters your home. It’s usually in your basement or crawl space.
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Keep cold air out. Repair broken windows, insulate all exterior walls and seal any openings near doors and windows.
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Insulate exposed pipes. Styrofoam pipe insulation is affordable and available at your nearest home improvement store. In a pinch, you can use newspaper or blankets.
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Find the areas of your home that are not protected from cold weather. Check rooms that are not insulated, rooms without access to heat, and openings in doors and windows. Basements and rooms open to the elements are most vulnerable to frozen pipes so take steps to protect them.
What to do if your pipes freeze:
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Check your shutoff valve to make sure it’s working properly and is in the open position.
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Open a faucet closest to the section of frozen pipe. As you thaw the frozen pipe and the water begins to melt, water will run through the pipe and help melt more ice.
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After water is shut off, you can warm frozen pipes with a hair dryer, space heater or by wrapping pipes with towels soaked in hot water. You can also purchase a water heater cable to safely thaw your pipe. Do not use open flames like a blowtorch and do not leave heaters unattended. Make sure electrical devices do not come into contact with water
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Once thawed, turn the water back on and check for leaks. Frozen pipes can cause small cracks in pipes and joints.
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Work with a licensed plumber to repair any broken pipes.
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If you think your water meter is frozen or broken, call 303-658-2500 to schedule an appointment with a water meter technician.
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