| The Water Department
responds
to numerous frozen water pipe calls each winter with the
majority of them located inside the home. There are
several measures that homeowners can take to prevent their
water pipes from freezing. The water department would like
to offer the following tips.
 First
locate your main water shut off valve and meter. You need
to check your valve and make sure it works in case of an
emergency. It is usually located in your basement on the
side facing the street. Insure that the area immediately
surrounding the valve and meter is warm enough to prevent
freezing. In older homes with fieldstone and rock
foundations make sure there are no direct drafts from the
holes in the walls or gaps in the windows and doors. If
these areas remain cold constantly you should insulate
your pipes or wrap them in heating tape. Both of
these items can be found in any home improvement store.
Remember, even if the room temperature is warm, a direct
cold draft on your water pipes, can cause them to freeze!
In
the event that your pipes do become frozen, locate the
faucet closest to your main valve and meter. Usually there
is one just after the meter. Turn it on to determine if
the pipes are frozen in your home or if they are frozen on
the street side of the meter. If you have water flow at
the point, then the problem is further along the pipe in
your home. Try to locate the frozen area by checking
subsequent faucets along the way. If there are none, then
feel your way across the pipe to find the coldest spot.
Once you find the area inspect the pipe to make sure it is
not split. Locate the nearest shut off in case you need
it. Open the nearest faucet and try thawing the pipe with
a hair dryer making sure you slide it from side to side
and do not leave it concentrated on one spot. This could
cause the pipe to burst. In most cases this should solve
the problem. If you are unable to thaw the pipe, you
should then contact a plumber. If the problem is on the
street side of your meter, you should then contact the
Water department.
If
your water has frozen in the past and the problem has not
been corrected, you should hire a water department
licensed contractor to replace and lower your pipe. Also,
do not forget to turn off and drain the supply to your
outside faucets and sprinklers. If left on they will
freeze and burst.
To
help conserve water during the winter, insulate your hot
water pipes. This will help to retain the heat and prevent
you from having to run the water in order to get it hot.
Have a great Holiday season! |
