Kentucky American Water Shares Tips to Prevent Frozen Pipes
LEXINGTON, Ky., (Jan.6, 2022) – With winter here, Kentucky American Water reminds customers to take a few minutes – if they haven’t already – to help prevent their homes’ water pipes from freezing.
Frozen water lines typically occur in areas such as crawl spaces or along the outside walls where unprotected plumbing tends to be more vulnerable to the elements. Customers are encouraged to do the following in preparation for cold weather:
- Disconnect all garden hoses from your home.
- Search your house for un-insulated water pipes, especially in unheated areas. Check attics, crawl spaces and outside walls. Consider wrapping pipes with insulation sleeves. Another option is electric heating tape but follow manufacturers’ instructions carefully to avoid a fire hazard.
- Seal cracks and holes in outside walls and foundations with caulking to keep cold air away from pipes.
Once cold weather arrives, follow these tips:
- Set the thermostat no lower than 55 degrees if you’re going out of town. Although you may be able to get away with a lower temperature, this setting is safe for pipes.
- When below-freezing temperatures occur (below 32 degrees Fahrenheit), keep a slow trickle of water flowing through faucets supplied by pipes that run through unheated or unprotected spaces. This will help prevent the water in pipes from freezing.
- Keep kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors open to allow warm air to circulate around the pipes.
- Make sure you know where your main water shut-off valve is located inside your home so that you can shut off your water quickly in the event of a water pipe leak. This valve is often located in a utility room, closet or in the basement or crawlspace.
If your home’s water pipes freeze:
- Shut off your water immediately using the main water shut-off valve.
- Thaw pipes with warm air, with a hair dryer or with a space heater. Do not leave heaters unattended and do not use kerosene heaters or open flames.
- Be careful turning water back on. Once pipes are thawed, slowly turn the water back on and check pipes and joints for any cracks.
Visit Kentucky American Water’s website at kentuckyamwater.com for more tips on water-related matters, or connect with the company on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Kentucky 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 half a million people. For more information, visit www.kentuckyamwater.com and follow Kentucky American Water on Twitter and Facebook.
About American Water
With a history dating back to 1886, American Water (NYSE:AWK) is the largest and most geographically diverse U.S. publicly traded water and wastewater utility company. The company employs more than 6,500 dedicated professionals who provide regulated and regulated-like drinking water and wastewater services to an estimated 14 million people in 25 states. American Water provides safe, clean, affordable and reliable water services to our customers to help keep their lives flowing. For more information, visit amwater.com and follow American Water on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
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LEXINGTON, Ky., (Jan.6, 2022) – With winter here, Kentucky American Water reminds customers to take a few minutes – if they haven’t already – to help prevent their homes’ water pipes from freezing.
Frozen water lines typically occur in areas such as crawl spaces or along the outside walls where unprotected plumbing tends to be more vulnerable to the elements. Customers are encouraged to do the following in preparation for cold weather:
- Disconnect all garden hoses from your home.
- Search your house for un-insulated water pipes, especially in unheated areas. Check attics, crawl spaces and outside walls. Consider wrapping pipes with insulation sleeves. Another option is electric heating tape but follow manufacturers’ instructions carefully to avoid a fire hazard.
- Seal cracks and holes in outside walls and foundations with caulking to keep cold air away from pipes.
Once cold weather arrives, follow these tips:
- Set the thermostat no lower than 55 degrees if you’re going out of town. Although you may be able to get away with a lower temperature, this setting is safe for pipes.
- When below-freezing temperatures occur (below 32 degrees Fahrenheit), keep a slow trickle of water flowing through faucets supplied by pipes that run through unheated or unprotected spaces. This will help prevent the water in pipes from freezing.
- Keep kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors open to allow warm air to circulate around the pipes.
- Make sure you know where your main water shut-off valve is located inside your home so that you can shut off your water quickly in the event of a water pipe leak. This valve is often located in a utility room, closet or in the basement or crawlspace.
If your home’s water pipes freeze:
- Shut off your water immediately using the main water shut-off valve.
- Thaw pipes with warm air, with a hair dryer or with a space heater. Do not leave heaters unattended and do not use kerosene heaters or open flames.
- Be careful turning water back on. Once pipes are thawed, slowly turn the water back on and check pipes and joints for any cracks.
Visit Kentucky American Water’s website at kentuckyamwater.com for more tips on water-related matters, or connect with the company on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Kentucky 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 half a million people. For more information, visit www.kentuckyamwater.com and follow Kentucky American Water on Twitter and Facebook.
About American Water
With a history dating back to 1886, American Water (NYSE:AWK) is the largest and most geographically diverse U.S. publicly traded water and wastewater utility company. The company employs more than 6,500 dedicated professionals who provide regulated and regulated-like drinking water and wastewater services to an estimated 14 million people in 25 states. American Water provides safe, clean, affordable and reliable water services to our customers to help keep their lives flowing. For more information, visit amwater.com and follow American Water on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.