The Clear Take on Water and Wastewater Today

The Clear Take on Water and Wastewater Today

Did you know?

Extremely Cold Temperatures Can Cause Pipes and Mains to Break

It’s January and the first vestiges of a winter have arrived. The mercury has dropped and operators and managers should be prepared to help homeowners prevent water lines from freezing and breaks from occurring. Water damage is expensive and repairing lines in the cold is not an easy task. It’s important to help homeowners understand that by doing preventative maintenance, they can avoid or reduce costlier damage and repairs down the road.

Here are some useful tips to share with homeowners that they can use to help prevent pipes from freezing:

Tip 1 – Drain and shut off outside faucets. Use the shut-off valve indoors to keep water from seeping into the outside portion of the faucet, and then drain the exterior portion of the fixture.

Tip 2 – Know where your main water supply shut-off valve is located and how to turn it off and on; this allows you to quickly turn off the water in case of a leak. If your home does not have a main water supply shut-off valve, contact a plumber to have one installed.

Tip 3 – When it is dangerously cold, open the cabinet doors under your sinks to allow warm air to keep pipes from freezing.