Cold Weather Conservation Tips

Learn how to lower your utility bills and protect our environment with these simple, effective strategies for your home during winter.

Lower your utility bills and keep your home cozy by optimizing your heating and airflow.

Thermostat Settings: Turn down your thermostat and bundle up, or use a smart thermostat to manage your heating automatically.
Water Heater: Set your water heater to 120°F to save energy while maintaining comfort.
Seal the Leaks: Check for and repair air leaks around external doors, windows, and your attic to keep the heat inside.
Fan Direction: Set your ceiling fan blades to spin clockwise at a low speed to pull cool air up and push trapped warm air down.
Stay Informed: Monitor your energy and water use with your LUS My Account.

Holiday Safety Tips

Stay safe when decorating for the holidays.

Keep your live tree hydrated by watering it daily
Don’t leave burning candles unattended
Check smoke alarms to ensure they are working
Stay in the kitchen when frying, boiling, grilling, or broiling food to prevent fires
Christmas trees can be placed at the curb for collection on regular garbage and recycling pickup days. They will be taken to the Dean Domingues Compost Facility to be turned into nutrient-rich compost
Common holiday plants (poinsettias, mistletoe, or pine needles) can make pets sick
Replace damaged lights or decorations
Use UL-certified lights and electrical decorations
Unplug decorations when you go to sleep or leave home
Don’t overload electrical outlets

Take these steps before the temperature drops to prevent costly pipe bursts and water damage.

Outdoor Protection:
- Wrap exposed pipes outside and underneath your home with insulation.
- Cover all outdoor faucets and disconnect/drain water hoses.
Indoor Care:
- Insulate water pipes that run through the attic.
- Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors under sinks to allow warm air to circulate around uninsulated pipes.
- Maintain a home temperature of 60-68 degrees.
Pool Maintenance: Keep your main pool pump running 24/7 during a freeze to prevent the plumbing from freezing.
Vacation Planning: If you will be away, turn off your water at the main hand cut-off valve (usually 2 feet from your meter) and drain the pipes.
A Note on Dripping: LUS asks that you do not drip or run your faucets, as this can negatively impact water pressure across the entire system.

If your pipes do freeze, follow these safety protocols to minimize damage and restore your service.

Thaw Safely: Never use a torch or open flame to thaw pipes. Use a hair dryer or hot water instead.
Leak Inspection: Once pipes have thawed, inspect them immediately for cracks or leaks.
Monitor Usage: Watch for water in unexpected areas and monitor your home’s water usage via your LUS My Account for five (5) days following a freeze to catch hidden leaks.
Emergency Shut-off: Locate your hand cut-off valve (near your water meter) ahead of time so you can quickly stop the water flow in the event of a burst pipe.