Prepare your homes for winter this year with winterizing tips from the City of Durango. Earlier this month, the new DuranGO microtransit app launched to bring after-hours, curb-to-curb public transportation back to town, and Android users can now add their Colorado ID to Google wallet, but don’t leave the physical card at home. You’re watching the “Local NEWS Roundup,” brought to you by Tafoya Barrett and Associates and The Payroll Department. I’m Wendy Graham Settle. El Nino is on its way, and the City of Durango wants to remind residents of the potential hazards and costs of frozen pipes. All it takes for outdoor uninsulated pipes to burst is a drop to 20 degrees Fahrenheit. So here are some tips to help protect your home and wallet from an unexpected burst pipe. Drain outside water hoses and disconnect them from faucets. Store hoses in a warm location, like a shed or garage. Wrap insulating material around outdoor faucets or buy insulated covers for the faucets. Check for unprotected water lines in uninsulated areas, like garages, basements, attics, and crawl spaces. Remember, even hot water pipes can freeze if water isn’t flowing. Cover unprotected outdoor pipes coming from water meters and wells with insulating material. And make sure outdoor water storage units are covered with insulating covers. Fix broken doors and windows to prevent drafts and add exterior insulation where necessary. Keep temperatures set to at least 55 degrees Fahrenheit, even when a house is left unoccupied. Close garage doors if water pipes are located there and open cabinet doors and bathrooms in kitchens so warm air can circulate in the event of a freeze. If a pipe does burst, make sure to consult with a licensed plumber. DuranGO Microtransit, launched earlier this month, provides on-demand services within city limits from 8:00 p.m. to midnight, seven days a week. To request a ride, download the app, and the bus will come to you. Rides are $2 a person, $1 for folks 60 or older and people with disabilities. Fort Lewis College students ride for free with a valid bus pass. Download the app available for both Apple and Android and enjoy a night out without worrying about a safe ride home. Coloradans can now add their driver’s license or state ID to their phone using Google Wallet. This features available on Android’s 8.0 and up and can be used at select TSA PreCheck security checkpoints within participating airports. The Department of Motor Vehicles reminds everyone this does not replace carrying a physical ID card and is not recognized as a valid form of identification by law enforcement. Colorado is one of the first states to add their driver’s licenses and state IDs to Google Wallet, along with Arizona and Georgia. Learn more about these and other stories online at durangolocal.news. Thank you for watching this edition of the “Local NEWS Roundup.” I’m Wendy Graham Settle.
