As temperatures continue to dip, now is the time 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. Learn how to prevent water pipes from freezing and avoid significant property damage:
- Insulate pipes in unheated spaces, such as a crawlspace, attic, or basement.
- 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.
- 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.
- Sign-up for EyeOnWater: As the temperatures rise, pipes frozen by the low temperatures will begin to thaw which can lead to pipe leaks. Residents can 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.
If you 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.
Get informed on these and other helpful tips on preparedness by visiting: REDCROSS.org, ReadyROWAN.org, and FEMA.gov. You can also sign up for leak alerts with EyeOnWater!