Prevent Frozen Water Pipes With These Tips From Aqua Pennsylvania

BRYN MAWR, PA — In case you didn't know: it's cold. Very cold.

Frigid temperatures combined with 30 to 40 mile per hour wind gusts, the Philadelphia region feels a bit like the tundra recently.

And with dangerously low temperatures comes the risk of water pipes freezing and bursting.

But, with these tips from Aqua Pennsylvania, Philadelphia-area residents can help prevent the cold from severely damaging their water systems:

• Wrap Pipes and Meters: Use insulation materials or heat tape on your pipes and wrap indoor meters with a blanket.
• Keep Cabinets Open: If you have interior plumbing along an exterior wall, leave cabinet doors open to allow warm air to circulate around pipes.
• Run a Small Stream of Water: If temperatures fall below 10 degrees, leave a thin stream of water running from the faucet farthest from your meter.

In the event your pipes do freeze, open a spigot and use a hair dryer or heat tape to thaw it gradually. Never use an open flame to thaw pipes.

Anyone who cannot thaw pipes themselves should contact a licensed plumber for assistance.

Aqua also recommends people keep pipe insulation, heat tape, a portable space heater and a hair dryer on hand; locate and mark the master water valve in case a pipe burst and water must be shut off; inspect outdoor meter pits to ensure lids are intact to prevent freezing in these areas; winterize outdoor faucets by shutting off and drain outdoor faucets, including those connected to lawn sprinkling systems; and eliminate drafts in unheated areas by insulating crawl spaces and basements, repair broken windows, and seal gaps to protect pipes.