Homeowners are bracing for severe winter weather in Indianapolis this week. As you collect extra food and water and check the furnace, it's also important to take steps to protect the plumbing in your home. Here are important steps protect plumbing in your home as temperatures drop this week:

Remove the hose from the outside faucet. If you live in an older home, outside faucets may not be frost proof. It is important to insulate these faucets. Visit your local hardware store to find the right tools to insulate these outside faucets.

Many older homes still have piping installed on outside walls. It's important to open cabinets to allow heat to get to these outside pipes.

Also, drain lines in older homes were sometimes installed in unconditioned areas, so if there is a leaking toilet or faucet, the water can sometimes build up and freeze, so make sure to get that leaking toilet or faucet fixed before the big freeze.

If you're going out of town, we always recommend turning off your main shutoff.  If you don't have one that is accessible, it is highly recommended to get one installed in an accessible area.

Always remember to let the water run slowly, or at least a drip, out of the faucets when very cold.

Consumer Reports also has great information about protecting your pipes for severe winter weather. Read the article here.

If you have additional questions about plumbing in your home or need a repair, please contact the experts at L.D. Smith Plumbing.