The crisp autumn air marks different things to different people. To those of us in cooler climates, it means shutting down our home’s irrigation system until spring.

As winter’s grip tightens and January temperatures fall, it is important to take proper precautions for your home’s water pipes. This is important because water expands as it freezes, putting pressure on the pipes, which can cause them to break.

As much of the United States braces for frigid temperatures this week, we thought we’d post some reminders that humans aren’t the only ones that need to be bundled up.

It’s important to wait until after your community’s last freeze before turning your home's irrigation system on. Beginning to water your lawn too early could have a devastating impact. Water expands when it freezes in an irrigation line, which could lead to expensive breaks.

Today's question: Why do the ice cubes from my freezer used to cool my water make the water taste funny?