Tips offered to help prevent freezing pipes

The first snows have fallen in Lake County and with temperatures dropping as winter approaches, the county Department of Utilities is reminding residents to protect the water systems in their homes and businesses.

“When temperatures drop, water inside pipes can freeze and expand,” said department Public Service Coordinator David Schick. “This can cause the pipes to burst, leading to flooding and major damage to your home and or property. Plus, there’s never a good time for costly and inconvenient repairs during the holidays.”

Pipes in attics, crawl spaces and outside walls are all vulnerable to freezing, especially if there are cracks or openings that allow cold outside air to flow across the pipes.

Schick said that pipes freeze based upon three reasons: a drastic drop in temperature, poor insulation and the thermostat being set too low.

In the United States, frozen pipes cause a significant amount of damage each year. The Utilities Department advises that, with some preparation, homeowners can help keep their pipes from freezing, and avoid costly repair and aggravation caused from broken pipes.

Below are tips on how to prevent pipes from freezing during periods of extreme and prolonged cold.

Outdoor water freezing prevention

• Disconnect and drain outdoor garden hoses

• Drain the water from your sprinkler supply lines

• Cover and insulate any outside faucets

Indoor water freezing prevention

• Close inside valves that supply outdoor spigots, open the outside spigot valves, and allow any remaining water to drain

• Keep garage doors closed if water supply lines are located inside

• Setting the thermostat in your house no lower than 55 degrees

• Insulate any pipes that are located in unheated areas including crawl spaces, attics, garages, and pipes located against exterior walls

• Consider wrapping pipes in unheated areas with electric heating tape

• Allow a trickle of water to run from any faucets that have pipes located along exterior walls; the constant flow of water will help prevent water in the pipes from freezing

If a pipe bursts due to freezing water, the first step is to immediately shut off the water at the main shutoff valve. Knowing the location of the shut-off valve, and making sure it is operable, is critical.

This is also beneficial when water needs to be turned off during non-weather related emergencies. In the event of a broken pipe, this valve allows you to turn the water to the house off before any additional damage occurs.

The shut-off valve is usually located where the water line comes into your house from the street, and is typically before the water meter.

Once the water is shut off, use an electric hair dryer or portable space heater to help thaw the pipe. Never use a blowtorch or other flammable devices.

For those who head south for the winter, Schick recommends setting the thermostat in the house no lower than 55 degrees, having a friend or neighbor check daily to make sure it is warm enough to prevent freezing pipes or contact the Lake County Department of Utilities at 440350-2070 to shut the water off at the street.