NEWS ADVISORY
Nov. 24, 2010
Media contact: Sonja Hall, Community & Media Services, (253) 278-3246
Customers with a water leak emergency should call our trouble line at (253) 502-8384.
If the past few days have been a sign of things to come, frozen pipes could create big problems this winter. With freezing temperatures, improperly insulated water pipes can freeze and rupture, and water inside pipes can freeze, expand and cause leaks.
Customers should protect their plumbing with these easy steps:
- Insulate exposed pipes, valves and outside faucets. This includes pipes located outdoors, in attics, crawl spaces, basements and garages. Pipe insulation and insulating material for exterior faucets are available in hardware stores.
- Shut off and drain outdoor faucets. If exterior faucets have individual shutoff valves, turn off the water supply for each, then open the valve to let the water drain.
- Shut off and drain any outdoor irrigation systems or other water fixtures.
- Disconnect garden hoses from exterior faucets.
- Cover footing and foundation vents.
- Keep heat on and set thermostats to no lower than 55° F while away.
- When leaving a home or business for an extended period of time, ask someone to ensure the heat remains on by checking in daily.
- Locate emergency shutoffs and learn how to turn off the water supply.
If there will be an extended freeze, customers also can:
- Let water trickle from the faucet on the outside wall furthest from the water meter.
- Open cabinet doors to allow warm air to circulate.
