WITH winter settling in, Greater Western Water (GWW) is encouraging people to protect their water meters and solar hot water panels from frosty temperatures.
The season change also comes as a timely reminder to make every drop of water count as drier weather persists.
There are a few things you can do to make sure your water will keep flowing all winter long.
To prevent water meters freezing, GWW recommends covering meters with something that traps the air around it, like a blanket, container or bucket.
The simple hack will ensure you won’t wake up on a cold morning unable to take a shower, flush the toilet or do the dishes.
“Covering your meter is a simple step that will ensure you’ll always have running water and avoid repair bills for damaged pipes,” GWW’s General Manager for Service Delivery Jodie Hallam said.
“If your meter or pipes do freeze, it’s best to wait for the temperature to rise a little to naturally thaw them. If you can’t wait, pour lukewarm water over the frozen area but never use hot or boiling water as this can damage your pipes.”
Panels are susceptible to cracks which can cause leaks, resulting in a higher water bill.
To prevent solar hot water panels freezing, GWW recommends servicing your panels every three to five years, ensuring a frost protection valve is installed and checking the solar controller for error codes and warning lights.
GWW makes note to people living in Lancefield, Romsey and Woodend, saying it’s never been more important to use water wisely.
With a record-breaking dry summer and autumn, and forecasts pointing to a dry winter, GWW says it’s continuing to work on reducing impacts on drinking water supplies.
Other small things you can do to reduce your water usage includes running your washing machine on a full load, using a shower timer to keep your showers to four minutes and fixing leaky taps or toilets.
For more water saving tips visit gww.com.au/water-waste/saving-water
