Ask Abbey: How do I prevent water pipes from freezing?

How do I prevent my pipes from freezing during winter weather?

Follow these tips from Pennsylvania American Water to prevent frozen pipes that can burst and result in costly repairs.

Abbey Scheerer is an administrative assistant with South Fayette Township.

What do plumbers say every time they fix a burst pipe?

Water relief!

Joking aside, no one wants to pay a big bill to fix damages caused by a burst pipe.

Taking the right steps to prepare for cold weather can keep your pipes from freezing, saving you a huge headache and potentially thousands of dollars in repairs.

Here are some ways to prevent frozen and damaged pipes, courtesy of South Fayette Township’s water supplier, Pennsylvania American Water:

How to be proactive:

• Locate areas susceptible to freezing temperatures (32 F and below), such as basements, unheated rooms, crawl spaces and outside walls.

• Eliminate sources of cold air near water lines by repairing broken windows, insulating walls, closing off crawl spaces and sealing drafts around doors.

• Disconnect outside hoses before freezing temperatures hit.

• Protect your pipes and water meter. Wrap exposed pipes with insulation or use electrical heat tracing wire, newspaper or fabric. For outside meters, keep the lid on the meter pit closed tightly, and let any snowfall cover it to help insulate it.

• If your pipes are vulnerable to freezing, allow a small trickle of water to run overnight. The cost of extra water is low compared to repairing a broken pipe.

• Open cabinet doors to expose pipes to warmer room temperatures.

What to do if your pipes freeze:

• Shut off the water immediately. (Familiarize yourself with the location of the main water shutoff valve in advance.)

• Apply heat to the pipe by warming the air around it or applying heat directly to it. You can try a hair dryer, a space heater (be sure not to leave it unattended), or even hot water. Never use a kerosene heater, torch or open flame.

• Once pipes are thawed, slowly turn water back on and check for cracks and leaks.

When you are away from home:

• Have someone you trust check on your property regularly to ensure the heat is on and working, and that the pipes have not frozen.

• You can purchase a freeze alarm (for less than $100), which will call a user-selected phone number if the inside temperature drops below 45 degrees.