The past several days have been unusually cold in Kenilworth and the forecast is calling for the cold snap to continue this week. When we experience multiple days of sub-zero temperatures, the likelihood of frozen water lines increases significantly. Frozen water pipes can happen both within the walls/floors of your home and in your water service line underground. In either case, at best you don’t have water, at worst is a burst water line that causes flooding in your home.
If you live in an older home, you may be well acquainted with frozen water lines, but this can happen in newer homes too. Especially when it is this cold out! Here are some tips to help avoid frozen pipes:
- Set your washing machine to run a warm water cycle between 2:00 – 4:00 a.m.
- Set your dishwasher to start a cycle in the overnight hours.
- Empty your icemaker so it starts making ice overnight.
- Drain the water line to your exterior hose bib if your plumbing is so equipped.
- Applying heat tape on your water lines gets mixed reviews. Some consider it a fire hazard, others swear by it. (consult your plumber if considering heat tape)
- Consider allowing a faucet to drip overnight – even a little water movement can help avoid frozen pipes.
A final tip is to consider installing an automatic water shut-off valve. The newer versions of the device are connected to an app that notifies you of a potential burst water line and can automatically shut off the water. While this does not prevent a water line from bursting, it certainly can help minimize the impact of the resulting flooding in your home.
If you suspect having a frozen water line, please call your plumber for assistance. They can help you determine where the problem is, thaw the line, and may even help insulate the line against future problems. The Village’s water mains supplying your home are large and deep enough that they do not freeze. However, call us if you need us in an emergency and your plumber can’t respond immediately.