Subzero Temperatures & Snow in the Forecast: New Jersey American Water Emphasizes Need to Guard Against Frozen Pipes
January 03 2018 - 5:39PM
Business Wire
It looks like the subzero temperatures and winter weather are
here to stay for a while, so New Jersey American Water is urging
homeowners to act now to prevent frozen and damaged household
pipes.
“With the extreme cold temperatures and a pending snow storm,
our crews are ready to handle any main breaks or service
disruptions that come our way. We are also asking customers to take
immediate steps to protect vulnerable areas of their homes to avoid
frozen pipes that can burst and result in costly damage to their
properties,” said New Jersey American Water Vice President of
Operations Thomas Shroba.
Property owners are responsible for maintenance of the water
service line from the curb to the house, as well as any in-home
piping. New Jersey American Water encourages residents to take the
following precautions to reduce the risk of freezing and bursting
pipes:
WHAT TO DO:
- Familiarize yourself with areas of your
home most susceptible to freezing, such as basements, crawl spaces,
unheated rooms and outside walls.
- Eliminate sources of cold air near
water lines by repairing broken windows, insulating walls, closing
off crawl spaces and eliminating drafts near doors.
- Locate your main water shut-off valve.
When you locate the valve, mark it with an identification tag. The
valve is typically located where the water line enters the home.
This could be in the basement, crawlspace, or utility closet.
- If a pipe freezes or bursts, shut the
water off immediately.
- Protect your pipes and water meter.
Wrap exposed pipes with insulation or use electrical heat tracing
wire; newspaper or fabric might also work. For outside meters, keep
the lid to the meter pit closed tightly and let any snow that falls
cover it. Snow acts as insulation, so don't disturb it.
- If you are going to be away for a few
days or more, leave your thermostat at 55 degrees to prevent
freezing.
WHEN TEMPERATURES ARE CONSISTENTLY AT OR BELOW
FREEZING:
- If you have pipes that are vulnerable
to freezing, allow a small trickle of water to run overnight to
keep pipes from freezing. The cost of the extra water is typically
lower than the cost of repairing a broken pipe.
- Open cabinet doors to expose pipes to
warmer room temperatures to help keep them from freezing.
IF YOUR PIPES FREEZE:
- Shut off the water immediately. Don't
attempt to thaw frozen pipes unless the water is shut off. Freezing
can often cause unseen cracks in pipes or joints.
- Apply heat to the frozen pipe by
warming the air around it, or by applying heat directly to a pipe.
You can use a hair dryer, space heater or hot water. Be sure not to
leave space heaters unattended.
- Do not use kerosene heaters or open
flames to thaw pipes inside your home.
- Once the pipes have thawed, turn the
water back on slowly and check for cracks and leaks.
DURING SNOW EVENTS:
- Keep fire hydrants clear of snow and
winter debris.
- Clear a three-foot perimeter around
hydrants so firefighters can work.
- Clear a path from hydrant to
street.
- Fire hydrants that remain clear at all
times can save valuable time if firefighters need to access them in
the event of an emergency.
For more helpful tips and to view New Jersey American Water cold
weather infographic, visit the Wise Water Use page, on the
company’s website at www.newjerseyamwater.com.
HELP REPORT LEAKS
New Jersey American Water also advises that sub-freezing
temperatures can cause water mains and service lines to break and
cause unsafe driving conditions. If you see a leak or your water
service is disrupted, please contact the company’s customer service
center at 1-800-272-1325.
New Jersey American Water, a subsidiary of American Water, is
the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, providing
high quality and reliable water and/or wastewater services to
approximately 2.7 million people. More information can be found at
newjerseyamwater.com. With a history dating back to 1886, American
Water (NYSE: AWK) is the largest and most geographically diverse
publicly traded U.S. water and wastewater utility company. The
company employs 6,800 dedicated professionals who provide regulated
and market-based drinking water, wastewater and other related
services to an estimated 15 million people in 47 states and
Ontario, Canada. More information can be found by visiting
www.amwater.com.
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version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180103006299/en/
New Jersey American WaterDenise Venuti FreeDirector of
Communications and External
Affairs856-782-2316denise.free@amwater.com
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