According to Environment Canada, residents of Halton Region will continue to experience very cold temperatures for the remainder of the week. In 2015 so far, we have already experienced 6 cold alerts in Oakville impacting residents for a total of 23 days. Under such frigid conditions, it is important to be proactive to protect yourself, your family and your home.
Anyone can be affected by extreme cold-related weather conditions and your best defence against the cold temperatures is to be prepared. To keep yourself and your family safe, be sure to dress appropriately and cover exposed skin. Keep a Car Survival Kit in your car at all times that includes items such as a cell phone, blankets, booster cables, shovel, first aid supplies and a flashlight and batteries. Finally, be sure to also know the road conditions before you leave your house by checking the news and weather forecast.
Besides protecting yourself, it's also important to think about your home during these cold temperatures. Water pipes in your home can be at risk of freezing because the frost line penetrates lower into the ground. In Halton already this year, Public Works staff has been working with homeowners to avoid water outages and protect against freezing pipes. As a homeowner, there are a few proactive steps you can take to reduce the risk:
- Shut off and drain pipes leading to outside faucets.
- Ensure good air circulation to all plumbing areas. Keep doorways open in areas with a water meter or plumbing (e.g., basement areas and crawl spaces) to ensure the temperature in these areas remains warm.
- Ensure both the temperature and air circulation in your home are adequate to keep your basement and/or crawl space warm enough to prevent water lines from freezing.
For additional actions you can take to reduce the risk of frozen water pipes in your home, please visit halton.ca/frozenpipes.