IDAHO, USA — With temperatures diving into the single digits, making sure your water pipes don't freeze is a necessity. Especially in older homes this can be a problem. Veolia, the water provider for over 240,000 people in the Treasure Valley, has some tips to make sure pipes don't freeze, which is a costly problem to fix.
"Homeowners are responsible for service lines from the water meter box to their home and all water pipes inside the property line. If any of these pipes freeze, the homeowner is responsible for thawing or repairing them or contacting a licensed plumber to do the work," the company's website states.
Veolia states that people should contact the company if water stops working but to avoid that problem altogether, they recommend the following:
Before the cold weather hits:
Prevent cold air from seeping inside. Close outside vents, crawl spaces and doors. Fix broken windows, seal cracks in your walls and foundations. Also, keep your garage door closed to prevent cold air from reaching pipes and water heaters.
To help protect interior pipes along outside walls, open the cabinet doors under sinks to allow warm air to circulate.
Insulate pipes by wrapping them in commercial insulation. For extra protection, wrap pipes subject to cold or freezing in heat tape before insulating.
If you’re going away, keep a minimum amount of heat on in the house. You may also want to keep a thin stream of water running from a faucet.
Place a tag on the main water shutoff valve to your home and make sure everyone in the house knows its location and how to operate it in an emergency.
If pipes do become frozen the company said to act quickly and recommend the following actions:
If your pipes freeze, it’s important to clear blockages as soon as possible to minimize damage. In some instances, it may be best to call a licensed plumber.
Turn Off the Water
If a water pipe freezes, turn off the water at the main shutoff valve for your home. Open a nearby faucet so the pipe can drain as it thaws.
Be Careful
Do not use electrical appliances in areas of standing water. Never use hot water or a blowtorch on a frozen pipe. Thaw pipes by applying hot air from a hair dryer or electric heater, or by using a heating pad. Do not turn the water back on until you are sure there are no leaks.
People can also contact the company at 208-362-7304.
Watch more Local News:
See the latest news from around the Treasure Valley and the Gem State in our YouTube playlist:
HERE ARE MORE WAYS TO GET NEWS FROM KTVB:
Download the KTVB News Mobile App
Apple iOS: Click here to download
Google Play: Click here to download
Watch news reports for FREE on YouTube: KTVB YouTube channel
Stream Live for FREE on ROKU: Add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching 'KTVB'.
Stream Live for FREE on FIRE TV: Search ‘KTVB’ and click ‘Get’ to download.