Jan. 16--DURHAM -- When the weather gets this cold, don't forget to take care of your pipes and pets.

With temperatures expected to remain below freezing overnight through the weekend -- and perhaps hitting single digits early Saturday morning -- local water officials are encouraging their customers to protect water pipes from freezing.

Frozen pipes can burst and cause substantial damage if a large amount of water is released in a home or business.

Pipes in unheated areas of a house, typically the crawl space and/or basement, have the greatest chance of freezing. Utilities are urging their customers to seal openings and air leaks in the crawl space or basement, including access doors, air vents in the foundation, and cracks.

Use insulation or even cardboard, plastic or newspaper to close and seal cracks and other openings -- just keep the cold out as much as possible. Foundation air vents may have hinged covers so the vents can easily be closed.

Leave a trickle of water running continuously from the faucet highest in the house. The trickle should be a steady stream the size of a pencil tip, which will only cost a few cents to leave running overnight.

Check that the cover is closed on the water meter box for your home or business to prevent cold air from freezing water inside the meter.

If the heat fails long enough for your house or other building to get close to freezing temperature, or if you have a vacant building with the heat off:

--Turn off the water at the master shut-off valve in your plumbing system. Your shut-off valve may be in the basement, crawlspace or closet where water pipes come into the house/building. If you do not have a master shut-off valve in your plumbing system, consider installing one when practical for future use.

--Before draining pipes, turn off the water heater to ensure the lack of water doesn't burn out the heating elements.

--Drain the pipes in your plumbing system by opening the highest and lowest cold water faucets in your house until the water is gone.

Before turning on the hot water heater again, wait until water service is restored and the hot water tank is refilled.

--Insulate pipes in unheated parts of your home.

Local officials remind pet owners to ensure their pets have shelter and bedding during these frigid days. Animals suffer from cold like humans and often cannot provide shelter for themselves.

Bringing pets indoors is best. If they must remain outdoors, it is crucial to provide a four-walled structure with a roof, and layers of bedding. Bedding made from a mixture of cedar shavings and wheat straw or hay is recommended.

At the very least, a blanket should be placed under your pet. A roof is necessary to keep the frost off your pet's coat.

RCheck your pet's water bowl frequently. Like humans, animals require water throughout the day, which they cannot access if it is frozen. With temperatures this cold, water may freeze throughout the day.

Heated water buckets are available at pet stores.

-----

To see more of The Herald-Sun, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.herald-sun.com.

Copyright (c) 2009, The Herald-Sun, Durham, N.C.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

A service of YellowBrix, Inc.