Illinois American Water Provides Cold Weather
Tips to Prevent Frozen Pipes and Water Meters
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[January 18, 2020]
With the prediction of winter weather and
freezing temperatures, Illinois American Water is reminding
homeowners to take necessary steps to prevent frozen pipes and water
meters. By following the company’s cold weather tips, customers can
help avoid damaged plumbing inside and outside the home. |
When temperatures are consistently at or below
freezing customers should:
• 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 their main water shut-off valve. If a pipe
freezes or bursts, immediately shut off the water.
• 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. Customers are encouraged to capture the water
and use it to water indoor plants and more.
• Open cabinet doors to expose pipes to warmer room temperatures to
help keep them from freezing.
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• Keep the lid to outside meter pits closed tightly and let any snow
that falls cover it. Snow acts as insulation; do not disturb it.
If pipes freeze, customers should:
• Shut off the water immediately. Do not attempt to thaw frozen
pipes unless the water is shut off.
• Apply heat to the frozen pipe by warming the air around it, or by
applying heat directly to a pipe via a hair dryer, space heater or
hot water. Don’t leave space heaters unattended and avoid kerosene
heaters or open flames.
• Once the pipes have thawed, turn the water back on slowly and
check for cracks and leaks. When customers
are away, they should:
• Have a friend, relative or neighbor regularly check their property
to ensure that the heat is working, and the pipes have not frozen. [to top of second
column] |
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• Also, a freeze alarm can be purchased 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 water mains to break and cause water to cover roadways.
If customers see a leak, experience disrupted water service or low water
pressure, they should contact the company’s 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.
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 7,100 dedicated professionals who
provide regulated and market-based drinking water, wastewater and other related
services to more than 14 million people in 46 states. American Water provides
safe, clean, affordable and reliable water services to our customers to make
sure we keep their lives flowing. For more information, visit
www.amwater.com
[Karen Cotton, External Affairs
Manager]
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