WEST NYACK, N.Y. (November 4, 2025) — As temperatures drop across the region, Veolia is urging customers to take quick preventive steps to avoid frozen pipes and expensive repairs this winter.
Kelsea Dineen, a Veolia commercial service representative, appears in a new video walking homeowners through basic preparations.
“Disconnect and drain the garden hose connection before it gets cold,” Dineen says in the video. She also recommends wrapping water pipes with insulation or heat tape available at hardware stores.
Other key tips from Veolia include checking that shutoff valves on either side of the water meter work properly, labeling the main shutoff valve, and keeping the home thermostat set to at least 55 degrees when away during winter.
Homeowners should also close crawl spaces, doors, and open windows to the outside, fix broken windows, and seal visible cracks to keep cold air out.
“Setting aside a few minutes to prepare your home can go a long way in preventing costly damage,” said Kendra Morris, CEO of Veolia’s Regulated Water division in North America. “Plummeting temperatures can take a toll on household plumbing. Pipes located on outside walls, in basements or in crawl spaces are especially vulnerable to freezing and breaking.”
The company also advises customers who will be away for extended periods to either keep minimum heat on or fully drain pipes, toilets, and the water heater.
In case pipes do freeze, Veolia warns never to use hot water or a blowtorch and to immediately shut off the main valve if a pipe bursts.
The full winter preparation video is available on Veolia’s YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSDzwSE0eRg.
This article was drafted with the aid of Grok, an AI tool by xAI, under the direction and editing of Robert Cox to ensure accuracy and adherence to journalistic standards.
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