Homeowners urged to prepare for frozen pipes

Area homeowners are reminded to take steps to prevent their water pipes from freezing.

WEST CHESTER » After the nor’easter passes through early Thursday afternoon, it will usher in a blast of cold air Chester County hasn’t seen in more than a decade. Aqua Pennsylvania has issued an urgent reminder to homeowners to take steps to prevent their water pipes from freezing, because the high temperature Friday will only be 14 degrees, and just 12 degrees on Saturday.

“The best thing homeowners can do is to be fully prepared for this cold weather that is coming in,” said Haley Flanagan, spokesperson for Aqua Pennsylvania. It’s about to get freezing.”

Marc Lucca, president of Aqua Pennsylvania, said the firm is monitoring water mains, and he said homeowners need to be vigilant to protect against frozen pipes, with lows approaching zero degrees both Thursday and Friday nights.

“Each winter, we receive many calls from customers who are dealing with pipes that have frozen or ruptured due to extreme winter temperatures,” Lucca said. “Frozen pipes become a concern anytime the high temperature drops below freezing for a sustained period. We want to make sure our customers know how to keep their home’s water flowing during the Arctic blast, and also what to do if their pipes do freeze this winter.”

Lucca recommends that all customers take the following steps ahead of the severe winter weather:

• Make sure to have a supply of heat tape and pipe insulation, as well as a portable space heater and a hair dryer on hand.

• Locate and visibly mark the home’s master water valve. In the event that a pipe does break, use this valve to turn off water to the home.

• 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.

• Prevent drafts in unheated areas, such as crawl spaces or basements, by replacing broken glass or making other repairs.

Lucca also advises customers to take the following precautions in any 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 and safe 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.

• When temperatures remain near 10 degrees Fahrenheit, customers may want to leave a very thin stream of water running continuously from at least one tap in their home — 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 of a pipe, open a spigot and use a hand-held hair dryer (blow dryer) or heat tape to thaw the area. If this does not resolve the issue, contact a licensed plumber.

Aqua Pennsylvania serves approximately 1.4 million people in 32 counties throughout the state.

“Frozen pipes become a concern anytime the high temperature drops below freezing for a sustained period. We want to make sure our customers know how to keep their home’s water flowing during the Arctic blast, and also what to do if their pipes do freeze this winter.” — Marc Lucca, president of Aqua Pennsylvania