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Dropping temperatures could mean frozen pipes

By Robin L. Gardner | Independent Tribune

Published: January 12, 2009

Temperatures for the area are expected to drop into the lower teens by the end of the week.
Lower temperatures cause frozen pipes, and this can cause headaches for homeowners.
The Concord Division of Emergency Management offers the following tips to help prevent frozen pipes:

Be sure unheated pipes in part of your home and crawlspace are insulated.
Leave interior cupboard door under sinks open, especially if the sink piping is adjacent to an exterior wall.

Plug up drafty cracks and repair broken windowpanes.

Remove hoses from outside faucets and be sure they are drained and shut-off.

Advise all household members where the main shut-off valve is located in case of emergency.

If you will be away from home for an extended time shut off the water supply and drain the system.

Do not turn the furnace below 55 F during absences or at night.

NEVER try to thaw frozen pipes with an open flame. Use a hairdryer, sweeper exhaust, light bulb, or heat tape. Better yet, call a plumber.

Keep meter box lids closed to prevent cold air from freezing the water meter.

If you have experienced problems in the past keep a trickle of water running from the faucet highest in the house. This trickle should be a steady stream the size of a lead pencil.

NEVER use antifreeze to keep pipes from freezing. The chemicals could be drawn back into the water supply and contaminate the system.

Also, antifreeze is very difficult to remove from your water pipes.

After the cold snap, check unused portions of your water system for freezing damage and leaks to avoid possible flooding damage from undetected split pipes.

Contact reporter Robin L. Gardner: 704-789-9140