Tips to Winterizing Your Home

In either case following, if you are not sure of how your system works or, for some reason you desire to have the water shut off at the meter, REMEMBER-ONLY Mil Potrero Mutual Water Company personnel can operate the valve at the meter and will do so upon request.  The homeowner use of this valve is a violation of section #11 of the General Provisions of Rules, Regulations and Rates of Mil Potrero Mutual Water Company.

A.  SHUTTING IT DOWN FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD
1.                  Shut off the water supply outside the home
2.                  Open the outside hose-bib.
3.                  Open all inside faucets at the sink, lavatory and bathtub.
4.                  Open the water heater drain valve at the base of the water heater.
5.                  Shut off the master breaker switch to the house.
6.                  Pour approximately 1 tablespoon or less of antifreeze into the toilet bowl and the same amount into the tank and flush the toilet.  Then pour another tablespoon or less into the water standing in the toilet.  (The tank should be left empty.  Overuse of antifreeze may hinder septic tank function).
7.                  Pour 1 tablespoon or less of antifreeze into the sink lavatory and bathtub drains.
8.                  Insulate any exposed piping on the service side of the main water shut-off valve to the house, including any that are under the floors of the house.  Wrap pipes with polyurethane, a minimum of 2" thick and bind with duct tape or equivalent to below its entry into the earth.  “Heat tpes” can be used and are available locally.

B.                 TEMPORARY WINTERIZING
1.                  Leave the heat on inside the home with the thermostat set at the lowest setting that will assure its operation during the coldest periods (it must be set to maintain home above freezing.  This will minimize power costs and yet prevent freezing of the house and pipes).
2.                  Shut the water off at the outside source.
3.                  Open the outside hose bib.
4.                  Open all inside faucets at the sink, lavatory and bathtub.
5.                  Shut off the electric breaker to the water heater, only if applicable.
6.                  If you can shut off the water heater separately, you may elect to use heat tape to prevent freezing of exterior piping (entire length of all exterior pipe wrapped with heat tape including that under the house) or insulate as described in #8 for extended periods.  The insulation in lieu of heat tape is more economical and can be left on the exposed piping all year.

You should winterize your unit selecting the method which will best suit your usage.  If you are planning on coming up several times a month, then it is suggested that you only do a temporary winterizing of your unit.  If you are going to leave the unit for a long or more extended period of time, then it would normally be best to completely winterize the home using the extended winterizing procedure.

IN EITHER CASE, YOU MUST NOT LEAVE THE WATER RUNNING AT THE HOSE BIB OR INSIDE YOUR HOME AS THIS WILL CAUSE OTHER PROBLEMS, INCLUDING POSSIBLE BACKUP OF YOUR SEPTIC SYSTEM AND UNDERMINING OF YOUR HOME’S SUPPORT FOOTINGS, ICING OF YOUR DRIVEWAY AND THE ASSOCIATION STREETS.
BUT, IN ANY CASE, IT WILL WASTE WATER AND COST MORE FOR POWER AND IS A VIOLATION OF MIL POTRERO MUTUAL WATER COMPANY’S RULES, REGULATIONS AND RATES. SECTION #4, GENERAL PROVISIONS.  IN SUCH A CASE, THE WATER WILL BE SHUT OFF BY THE COMPANY AT THE METER WITH ALL RESPONSIBILY AND DMAGES AT THE EXPENSE OF THE HOMEOWNER.