IF YOU HAVE AN EMERGENCY, PLEASE CONTACT 479-330-2123
Are Your Water Meter and Pipes Protected From the Cold?
LBVWS reminds homeowners that now is the time to safeguard their home plumbing to prevent water damage from frozen and burst pipes. Tips also address frozen water meters, which can bring costly plumbing repairs and replacement fees along with headaches and unexpected expense for homeowners. We want to remind customers that sub-freezing temperatures for an extended period can cause pipes in vulnerable areas to freeze and burst, resulting in costly damage. By taking the proper preventive steps now, customers can avoid frozen pipes and water meters and the need to make expensive repairs to damaged plumbing inside and outside of the home.
LBVWS Encourages Residents to Take the Following Precautions
Taking the following precautions will help to reduce the risk of freezing and bursting pipes
Before Frigid Weather
- Know what areas of your home, such as basements, crawl spaces, unheated rooms,and outside walls, are most vulnerable to freezing.
- 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 your main water shut-off valve. If a pipe freezes or bursts, shut the water off immediately.
- Protect your pipes and water meter. Wrap exposed pipes with insulation or use electrical heat tracing wire; newspaper or fabric might also work. For outside meters, keep the lid to the meter pit closed tightly and let any snow that falls cover it. Snow acts as insulation so do not disturb it.
At Or Below Freezing
If you will be gone or if the house will sit unoccupied for longer than a month, please contact the office so that we can monitor your meter more frequently.
- If you have pipes and water meters that are vulnerable to freezing, allow a small trickle of water to run overnight or longer depending on temperatures below 32 degrees to keep pipes and meters from freezing. The cost of the extra water is low compared to the cost to repair a broken pipe or meter. LBVWS also encourages customers to capture the water for wise water use. The water can be used to water indoor plants and more.
- Have a neighbor go into your home and turn faucets on, raise the heat in the house, open cabinet doors. Check for any signs of frozen pipes.
- If you feel you have a frozen water meter or pipes, or if you have an emergency please call the emergency line: 479-330-2123.
- Another tip for homeowners, make sure your generators are working properly so when electricity does go out, your generator will perform.
- Make sure you have enough propane in your tank to cover you through the winter weather.
