#MiddleburyCT #FrozenPipes
This section of water pipe shows how frozen water caused the pipe to split. (Connecticut Water photo)
Temperatures and wind chills near and below zero are forecast for Friday night into Saturday. For Middlebury, the forecast is for a low of -8° Friday night and 6° Saturday night (weather.com). In response, Connecticut Water has issued a frozen pipe alert for Friday and Saturday and is offering tips (see below) to keep pipes from freezing. Homeowners are encouraged to take a few simple steps to prevent damage caused by water pipes freezing inside and outside the home.
Pipes bringing water in from a public water system or a private well, and water meters, usually are located near exterior walls and are vulnerable to freezing during extreme cold and windy conditions. When water inside a pipe or water meter freezes it can restrict or completely block the flow of water to the rest of the home, damage pipes and the meter, and flood basements when the ice thaws and water gushes in through split pipes and meters.
Property owners are responsible for the maintenance of the water service line from the curb to the house, as well as for any in-home piping, including meter repair costs. Connecticut Water encourages customers and private well owners to take the following precautions to reduce the chances that pipes will freeze or burst and water meters will be damaged.
- Locate the shutoff valve and be sure it is working properly in case of an emergency.
- Protect outside pipes and faucets. If there is a separate shutoff valve for the outside faucet, turn it off and drain the lines. If not, wrap and insulate outside faucets or hose bibs.
- Check for broken windows or damaged skirting that might cause freezing to your pipes or meter in your basement or crawl space.
- Caulk around pipes where they enter the house. Seal cracks or holes in windows, walls or doors near the meter or pipes.
- Make sure room heat can circulate freely around the meter and water pipes.
- Leave cabinet doors open where there is plumbing when the temperature is below freezing to allow more heat to the pipes.
- Wrap interior pipes with insulation, particularly in unheated areas like the garage, basement or crawl space.
- Homeowners that have had problems in the past with pipes freezing may want to let the water run at a slow rate in extreme cold. The extra cost in your water bill will be minimal compared to the cost of repairing a broken pipe. Homeowners can use a bucket or container to catch the dripping water and reuse it for another purpose.
Connecticut Water has prepared a Facebook video that includes these tips and additional information on what to do if a homeowner’s water pipes or water meter does freeze. To view, visit ctwater.com . Customers can also request a frozen pipes fact sheet or report emergencies 24/7 by phone at 800-286-5700.
The link to the Facebook video is facebook.com/watch/?v=1262054297320337 and the link to prevention tips is ctwater.com/media/2050/s-fact-sheets-cwc-winterizing-tips-cwc-winterizing-tips-2019.pdf.
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