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 We are facing frigid temps across the state,
which can cause pipes in vulnerable areas to freeze and burst,
resulting in costly damage, said Mike Smyth, vice president of
operations. By simply running a pencil-thin stream of water
overnight, customers can avoid frozen pipes and water meters.
Illinois American Water encourages residents to take the following
precautions to reduce the risk of freezing and bursting pipes:
When temperatures are consistently at or below freezing:
Allow a small trickle of water to run overnight to keep pipes from
freezing. The cost of the extra water is low compared to the cost to
repair a broken pipe. Illinois American Water also encourages
customers to capture the water for wise water use. The water can be
used to water indoor plants and more.
Open cabinet doors to expose pipes to warmer room temperatures to
help keep them from freezing.
Eliminate sources of cold air near water lines by repairing broken
windows, insulating walls, closing off crawl spaces and eliminating
drafts near doors.
Know the location of your main water shut-off valve. If a pipe
freezes or bursts, shut the water off immediately.
Protect your pipes and water meter. Wrap exposed pipes with
insulation or use electrical heat tracing wire; newspaper or fabric
might also work. For outside meters, keep the lid to the meter pit
closed tightly and let any snow that falls cover it. Snow acts as
insulation so do not disturb it.
If your pipes freeze:
Shut off the water immediately. Do not attempt to thaw frozen
pipes unless the water is shut off. Freezing can often cause unseen
cracks in pipes or joints.
Apply heat to the frozen pipe by warming the air around it, or by
applying heat directly to a pipe.
You can use a hair dryer, space heater or hot water. Be sure not to
leave space heaters unattended, and avoid the use of kerosene
heaters or open flames.
Once the pipes have thawed, turn the water back on slowly and
check for cracks and leaks. [to top of second
column] |
When you are away:
Have a friend, relative or neighbor regularly check your property to ensure
that the heat is working and the pipes have not frozen.
Also, a freeze alarm can be purchased for less than $100 and will call a
user-selected phone number if the inside temperature drops below 45 degrees.
Illinois American Water also advises that sub-freezing
temperatures can cause aging water mains to break and cause water to cover
roadways. If you see a leak, your water service is disrupted or you
experience low pressure, please contact the companys 24/7 customer service
center at 800-422-2782 to report an emergency. For general inquiries, call
between 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. More tips can be found at
www .illinoisamwater.com in our
online learning center.
About Illinois American Water
Illinois American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the
largest investor-owned water utility in the state, providing high-quality and
reliable water and/or wastewater services to approximately 1.3 million people.
American Water also operates a customer service center in Alton and a quality
control and research laboratory in Belleville.
With a history dating back to 1886, American Water is the largest and most
geographically diverse U.S. publicly-traded water and wastewater utility
company. The company employs more than 6,700 dedicated professionals who provide
regulated and market-based drinking water, wastewater and other related services
to an estimated 15 million people in 47 states and Ontario, Canada. More
information can be found by visiting
www.amwater.com.
[Karen Cotton]
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