Pennsylvania American Water: Act now to prevent frozen pipes later

WILKES-BARRE — Pennsylvania American Water Vice President of Operations Diane Holder says preparation and prevention can help avoid frozen pipes, which can rupture and cause very costly household damage.

“By taking action now, you can protect your pipelines from the threat of freezing and disruption,” Holder said.

With weather forecasts predicting cold temperatures, Pennsylvania American Water is advising homeowners to prepare their homes now to avoid frozen and damaged household plumbing. The company recently released a new winter tips video to help customers protect the pipes in their homes.

Property owners are responsible for maintaining the water supply line from the curb to the house, as well as all plumbing within the house.

Pennsylvania American Water urges residents to take the following precautions to reduce the risk of pipe freezing and bursting:

• Familiarize yourself with areas of your home most susceptible to frost, such as the basement, crawl space, unheated spaces, and exterior walls.

• Eliminate sources of cold air near water lines by repairing broken windows, insulating walls, closing crawl spaces, and eliminating drafts near doors.

• Locate your main water shut-off valve. If a pipe freezes or bursts, turn off the water immediately.

• Protect your pipes and water meters. Wrap exposed pipes in insulation or use electric heat tracing; Newspaper or fabric could also work. For outdoor meters, keep the meter pit cover tightly closed and allow falling snow to cover it. Snow acts as insulation, so don’t disturb it.

When temperatures are consistently around or below freezing:

• If your pipes are sensitive to frost, run a small stream of water overnight to prevent the pipes from freezing. The cost of the extra water is small compared to the cost of repairing a broken pipe.

• Open cabinet doors to expose pipes to warmer room temperatures to prevent freezing.

When your pipes freeze:

• Turn off the water immediately. Do not attempt to thaw frozen pipes unless the water is turned off. Freezing can often cause invisible cracks in pipes or joints.

• Apply heat to the frozen pipe by heating the air around it or by applying heat directly to a pipe. You can use a hair dryer, space heater or hot water. Be careful not to leave heaters unattended.

• Do not use kerosene heaters or open flames to thaw pipes in your home.

• After the lines have thawed, slowly turn the water back on and check for cracks and leaks.

When you are away:

• Have a friend, relative or neighbor check your property regularly to make sure the heating is working and the pipes aren’t frozen.

• A Freeze Alert can also be purchased for less than $100 that will call a user-selected phone number if the indoor temperature drops below 45 degrees.

Other helpful tips:

Visit the Pennsylvania American Water YouTube channel (www.YouTube.com/paamwater) and watch the Thawing Frozen Pipes video at https://www.YouTube.com/watch?v=oen0kSvqKks&t=10s.

Help report leaks

Pennsylvania American Water also advises that freezing temperatures can lead to ruptured water lines and unsafe driving conditions. If you see a leak or your water supply is interrupted, please contact the company’s customer service center at 1-800-565-7292.

Clear the snow near fire hydrants

In addition, the company asks homeowners to keep fire hydrants clear of snow. This allows the public to help firefighters locate them easily and access water quickly, saving valuable time potentially saving lives and buildings.

If you have a fire hydrant on or near your property, please take a few minutes to clear the snow. If you cannot clear the hydrant, please ask a neighbor or other person who can do this for you. Remember that quick access to fire hydrants benefits everyone.

Reach Bill O’Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.

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