As temperatures continue to dip, we encourage residents to start thinking about the possibility of pipes freezing in your home. Frozen water pipes are a problem that can happen in homes with both plastic and copper pipes. Take steps to protect your water pipes from freezing and avoid significant property damage.
Three steps to protect your pipes:
- Insulate pipes in unheated spaces, such as a crawlspace, attic, or basement. Pipes inside or close to an exterior wall can be kept warm by opening the cabinet doors.
- Remove and drain hoses from outdoor spigots. If there is a shut-off valve specifically for an outdoor spigot, turn the valve to the off position, open the spigot, and drain any water remaining in the spigot and pipe downstream of the shut-off valve. If you do not have a shut-off valve, it is recommended you contact a licensed plumber for costs and other information; however, if you do not have a shut-off valve in your plumbing system and need the water shut off in an emergency, please contact Customer Service at (704) 638-5300 (Monday – Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.). For water and/or sewer emergencies after hours, call (704) 638-5339.
- You can also let cold water drip from the faucet served by exposed pipes. Running water through the pipe - even at a trickle - helps prevent pipes from freezing; and FEMA states this will also reduce the buildup of pressure in the pipes.
As the temperatures rise, pipes frozen by the low temperatures will begin to thaw which can lead to pipe leaks. Residents can download the app or sign-up for the City’s free, secure service “EyeOnWater alerts” to track water usage and discover leaks long before they result in high bills or thousands of gallons of wasted water.
Get other helpful tips by visiting: REDCROSS.org, ReadyROWAN.org, and FEMA.gov. For more on EyeOnWater, visit: salisburync.gov/eyeonwater.