<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=22ZTS8_0jrAz1Su00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=22ZTS8_0jrAz1Su00" width="1280" height="845" ></figure><p>As an Arctic blast makes its way to southeast Louisiana, residents are being encouraged to leave their water faucets dripping to avoid bursting pipes during the freezing weather.</p><p>But what should you do if you're leaving town for the Christmas holidays?</p><p>You could leave a faucet on for an extended period of time while you're away, said Brad Bourgeois, office manager at Al Bourgeois Plumbing and Heating. But that can lead to other issues, especially if no one is around to keep an eye on the faucet. </p><p>Luckily there's an even better option.</p><p>“If they’re leaving home, we’re telling folks to turn the water off," Bourgeois said. "If they’re not going to use it, it’s better to just shut it off and drain the water out of the pipes than to leave it dripping.”</p><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=37EF3b_0jrAz1Su00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=37EF3b_0jrAz1Su00" width="1763" height="1175" ></figure><h2>How to turn your water off</h2><p>It's a few added steps, but Bourgeois said turning the water entirely off is the safest bet, and in most homes it's a simple process. </p><ul><li>First, find your water line valve and shut it off. While all homes are supposed to be outfitted with valves that allow the water to be turned on and off easily, Bourgeois said, "every home is different," especially in New Orleans. If your house is old, it might not have a valve or it might have an old one that you don't necessarily want to mess with. In that case, he said, you'll have to use your water meter to turn the water off. </li><li>Once the water is off, disconnect your garden hoses and turn your outdoor faucets on. Then turn on the other faucets inside your house and allow any remaining water to drain. Flush your toilets and hold the flush lever down until the water in the toilet tank drains entirely. </li><li>Make sure to leave your thermostat on — New Orleans City Hall recommends 60 degrees — while you're gone. Leave the cabinets below your sinks open to allow some heat to reach your pipes. </li><li>Get out of town and have a happy holiday!</li></ul><h2>What if I'm staying home?</h2><p>If you'll be at your usual residence for the holidays, the New Orleans Sewerage and Water Board recommends running the indoor faucet farthest away from your water meter when the temperature reaches 32 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. </p><p>"Remember," the agency wrote in a public safety message to residents, "just a little water goes a long way."</p><p>Keep the running water at no more than a trickle. Don't run more than one faucet, and don't run any of them at full blast; it's unnecessary, expensive and can contribute to lower water pressures across the city, risking the potential for a precautionary boil water advisory, the agency said.</p><p>In Jefferson Parish, the Water Department recommends that only customers with raised homes run faucets. If everyone runs faucets, it places a strain on the entire system and increases the chance for a boil water advisory, officials said. Homes that are on a concrete slab have added protection from the concrete and soil and do not require running taps for an extended period of time.</p><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0FvdcY_0jrAz1Su00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0FvdcY_0jrAz1Su00" width="1936" height="1071" ></figure><p>Bourgeois said he generally recommends a running faucet for anyone who will be home during freezing weather. Some slab homes have water lines running through their attics; while they're protected from wind, they can still get too cold during a freeze. </p><h2>How else should I prepare? </h2><p>Find our extensive list of winter weather preparations. </p></div></body>

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A running faucet protects pipes from freezing, but what if you're leaving town?

As an Arctic blast makes its way to southeast Louisiana, residents are being encouraged to leave their water faucets dripping to avoid bursting pipes during the freezing weather. But what should you do if you're leaving town for the Christmas holidays?. You could leave a faucet on for an extended...