Courtesy-Indiana American Water FB page
GREENWOOD, Ind. – With dangerously cold temperatures predicted for the Hoosier state over the next several days, Indiana American Water, in Greenwood, is urging its Johnson County customers to protect their homes and businesses against freezing pipes.
“With much colder temperatures in the forecast, we are encouraging customers to act now to protect their plumbing system against the extreme cold,” said Indiana American Water President Matt Prine.
He continued, “Failing to protect your plumbing from cold temperatures can be disruptive and very costly. When pipes crack or burst, homeowners are left with a costly plumbing bill, and thousands of dollars in water damage.”
These problems are preventable by evaluating areas of vulnerability and taking certain precautions. Implementing the following winterization tips now can help avoid headaches later:
- Wrap uninsulated pipes with foam insulation or electric heating tape but follow the manufacturer’s instructions to avoid a fire hazard
- Make sure your garage door and crawl space doors/vents are closed
- Leave cabinet doors open in kitchen and bathroom areas to allow warm air to circulate and consider letting a faucet drip to keep water moving through the pipes
- Seal cracks and holes in outside walls and foundations with caulking, especially where cables or phone lines enter the house
- Make certain the water to your hose bibs is shut off, the lines are drained, and the hose is disconnected from the spigot.
- Drain and shut off the water to any unoccupied residence. A loss of power during a winter storm could cause pipes to freeze.
- If you intend to leave a property entirely without heat, be sure to drain all water to prevent frozen pipes
- Set the thermostat at no lower than 55 degrees if you’re going out of town
- Make sure you know where your main water shut-off valve is in case of an emergency
Additional information on preventing frozen pipes is available online, here.
