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"Weatherproofing your home against the cold will pay dividends on
energy bills in the winter and will also help protect your indoor
plumbing against the threat of breaks," said Dean Falkner, Peoria
District network operations manager. "Seasonal homes are especially
at risk during this time of the year. Homeowners should take every
precaution to winterize the property and perform preventative
maintenance to indoor plumbing,"
The company encourages its customers to take the following
precautions to reduce the risk of freezing pipes that can burst.
Know the location of your main water shut-off valve. If a
pipe freezes or bursts, shut the water off immediately. The main
water valve is usually located along a basement wall next to the
water meter or where the water supply enters the building.
Know the areas in your home where water pipes are most vulnerable
to freezing -- crawl spaces, outside walls, outside faucets,
unheated rooms, basements, garages or attics.
Eliminate sources of cold air near water lines. Make your
basement airtight by repairing broken windows, insulating walls and
closing off crawl space vents and doors.
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 Protect your pipes. Wrap exposed water pipes with
insulation or UL-listed heat tape. Newspaper or fabric may also work
as temporary measures.
Drain water lines to outside faucets. Disconnect garden hoses
and, if practical, use an indoor valve to shut off and drain water
from pipes leading to outside faucets.
Keep your thermostat at 55 degrees or higher. If you plan to
be away for an extended period of time, ask a neighbor or family
member to check the house regularly.
More cold weather tips are available at
www.amwater.com.
About Illinois American Water
Illinois American Water provides reliable, high-quality water and
wastewater service to more than 1 million people in 125 communities
across the state. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of
American Water. With a history of over 100 years, American Water
provides high-quality water and wastewater services to over 18
million people in 29 states and parts of Canada. Headquartered in
Voorhees, N.J., the company employs approximately 7,000 people
nationwide. For more information, visit
www.amwater.com.
[Illinois
American Water news release] |
