Aqua Pennsylvania Offers Customers Tips to Keep Pipes from Freezing
Aqua says that customers should use the following tips in unheated areas of their homes when temperatures drop below freezing.
- Wrap pipes with insulation material or heat tape. Wrap indoor water meters with a blanket. Proper use of portable space heaters can also keep exposed pipes in drafty areas from freezing.
- For interior plumbing located on an outside wall such as a kitchen sink, install heat tape to the pipes beneath the sink. If no small children are in the house, open cabinet doors beneath the sink to allow the warm air in the home to reach the pipes.
- Make sure the lids on outdoor meter pits are not broken or missing.
- Shut off and drain any outside faucets including those for lawn sprinkling systems.
- When temperatures remain near 10°F, customers might want to leave a very thin stream of water running continuously from at least one tap—preferably the one farthest from the meter. The additional cost of the water is cheaper than the cost of repairing ruptured pipes.
- If a customer can locate the frozen area, use a hand-held hair dryer (blow dryer) or heat tape to thaw the area.
Aqua advises that every customer should know where their master valve is so that they can turn off the water to their home in case a pipe breaks inside their home.
WTRG
EDITOR'S NOTE: Aqua is prepared to do a weatherization "show and
tell" of how to prevent frozen pipes inside of a home in certain areas
of its service territory. The demonstration would include the proper use
of pipe insulation, heat tape, blankets, how to locate the master valve,
etc. Any reporter or photographer who is interested in a weatherization
show and tell should contact
Manager, Communications
610-645-1095
484-368-4720
dpalston@aquaamerica.com
Source:
News Provided by Acquire Media