ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — Cold weather puts pipes at risk of freezing or bursting. A local plumber and the Water Resources Department provide tips and insight on how to avoid this.
Dale Williams, president of AC Williams Plumbing and Heating in Asheville, says one of the most common problems homeowners face this season is frozen pipes.
“If you have a house with foundation vents, close those vents, a lot of people forget about them. Make sure all windows and garage doors are closed, as well as all exterior doors, utility areas and insulate plumbing if you can,” Willaims said
WEAVERVILLE PUB HOLDS SECOND PROPANE GIVEAWAY FOR HELENE VICTIMS THIS SATURDAY
Otherwise, a pipe burst may occur. Williams recommends locating the main shutdown point, isolating it and shutting it down
If you have a hot water heating system, you should set the thermostat slightly warmer to keep the pipes warm and safe.
“It's a lot cheaper. If it's at all economically possible, you should run the heat a little higher instead of lower to avoid having to drive to your house,” Williams said.
Coming cold weather
The coldest air of the season moves in late Sunday, January 19, dropping temperatures from nearly 40 degrees Sunday morning to a wind chill of -5 to -15 degrees Monday morning.
A strong cold front will move across western North Carolina starting Saturday evening, with a chance for a few showers. Temperatures will fall back to around 40°C by midnight and winds will increase from the northwest by Sunday morning.
On Sunday at 9 a.m. temperatures will drop to as low as 30°C and wind chill values will be over 20°C.
On Sunday at 6 p.m. the temperatures will be around 30 °C, the wind will cool around 20 °C. The wind is blowing at speeds of 20 to 30 miles per hour and that means it's time to prepare for winter.
ARCTIC BLAST COMING SOON TO WNC. HERE THE TEMPERATURES WILL LOWER
How to prepare pipes for the cold
Below are prevention tips and best practices for avoiding frozen pipes, provided by the Water Resources Department.
Recommendations for your home:
- Disconnect all garden hoses, drain them, and install covers on outdoor faucets.
- Keep garage doors closed.
- Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around plumbing.
- Identify the locations of the water shutoff valves and become familiar with their operation.
- Wrap pipes near exterior walls and in crawl spaces with pipe insulation or heat tape.
- Regulate the indoor temperature around the clock, especially by setting your thermostat to the same temperature during the day and night. Temporarily suspending the use of lower thermostat settings at night may increase your heating bill, but it also reduces the chance that a frozen and broken pipe will cause potentially serious damage to your home. Water damage repairs are expensive and can require you to be away from home for weeks or months.
- Close all windows near water pipes and cover or close vents. Freezing temperatures combined with cold drafts can increase the likelihood of pipes freezing.
- Set faucets to drip slowly when the weather forecast calls for extreme cold, when pipe insulation or other recommended tips are not applicable. For example, if the temperature is not expected to rise above freezing even in daylight, you should let the taps drip.
Here's how to prepare before freezing temperatures in WNC
Recommendations if a pipe freezes in your home:
- Start by thawing the pipe closest to the faucet. Make sure the faucet is turned on to allow the melted water to drain.
- Pipes can be defrosted with a good hair dryer. Avoid electric shock and do not operate the hair dryer near standing water or puddles.
- Another method to safely thaw frozen pipes is to heat water on the stove, soak towels in the hot water, and wrap them around cold sections of the pipes. Never attempt to thaw frozen pipes using torches or other means of extreme heat or flame. If heated too quickly, water pipes can explode and cause serious injuries.
- If a pipe bursts, shut off the water at the main valve. If the break is in a hot water pipe, the valve at the top of the water heater should be closed. Have an emergency number or an emergency number for a plumber nearby and call them as soon as possible.
Contacts and emergency procedures:
If you think your water meter is frozen; Contact Water Resources Division customer service at 828-251-1122.
A technician will come to your home to check if the water is flowing properly through the meter. All pipes and wiring on the home side of the meter are considered private and are the responsibility of the customer.
In case of emergency, the Water Resources Department is available 24 hours a day.
The City will not assist customers with indoor plumbing issues, but in the event of an interruption, it may turn off the water source to mitigate the situation.
If you need assistance again, call customer service at 828-251-1122.
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