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 Prevent
frozen water lines
Freeze Precautions
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While the average winter temperature for Benton averages above freezing,
there are occasions when the temperature drops below freezing. With freezing
temperatures there is a good chance that unprotected water pipes will
freeze. When this happens, you may experience only the annoyance of
interrupted water service until the water in the pipes thaw. Unfortunately,
for a few, the water line may rupture and cause property damage and require
plumbing repairs.
You would probably like to know how to avoid this problem. There are several
preventive measures that can reduce your chances of having your water lines
freeze. |
- Shut off the outside water valve, disconnect water hoses and drain water
from pipes, via an open faucet.
- Allow a trickle of hot and cold water to drip. The cost of the wasted
water is small compared to the damage from frozen pipes. CAUTION: Be certain
you are not running water into a drain line that is exposed to extreme cold
as that line might freeze as well.
- Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors under sinks to allow heat from the
room to circulate around un-insulated pipes.
- Heat unused rooms with plumbing, especially if the plumbing is in a north
wall.
- Insulate all pipes in areas where there is no heat, such as the garage
or crawl space. Apply heat tape or thermostat-controlled heat cables
around pipes that are exposed to the weather and prone to freeze. You can
purchase a variety of insulating and heating devices to install on both
inside and outside plumbing. Check with your local plumbing supplier for
details.
- Seal any air leaks around doors and windows to reduce cold air
penetration.
If you have a problem and need our assistance, please call us at
501-776-5933 anytime. We can shut the water off in the event of an emergency
to prevent further damage and to allow necessary repairs. |
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