When the temperatures dropped unusually low in Arkansas this winter, I was caught by surprise. I remember you’re supposed to leave faucets running very lightly to prevent pipes from freezing and bursting but can’t remember whether it’s the cold tap or the hot tap I should leave running. And do I need to do this with every faucet in my house? And the outside ones as well? And before winter comes, how should I protect my pipes? What type of material should I use to wrap them? Please refresh my memory on this so I will be better prepared next time the temperatures drop.
“When temperatures fall below freezing, especially in the low 20s and teens, we advise customers to leave a thin water stream running from the cold tap - most importantly on faucets that are located near outside walls,” advises John Tynan, director of customer relations and public affairs with Central Arkansas Water of Little Rock.
Tynan adds that the utility company advises running the cold tap because the hop tap already has some protection with it being hotter water.
“The most important thing to do is to keep the water in your home circulating,” he explains.
“By running your hot water, you run the risk of emptying your hot water tank and causing additional freeze risks at the heater and associated piping (not to mention having to take cold showers in the morning if you’ve already used up the hot water),” Tynan says.
However, he says, if electricity is lost in the home, it’s safest to run hot and cold taps to keep both systems circulating.
In addition to running the taps, especially during the night, Tynan offers other tips to help prevent home water pipes from freezing.
Open cabinet doors for warm air to access pipes and close air vents underneath the house to keep cold air out. You should not run or drip outside faucets, but should protect them using a faucet winterizing kit or by wrapping with household items like old T-shirts and washcloths and then securing the wrapping with duct tape. Covering the wrapped faucet with a plastic bag can also help shield the faucet from rain and snow.
“When insulating your water pipes, always begin from the initial pipe exposure from the ground,” Tynan recommends, adding that there are a lot of easy-to-use polyethylene foam wraps, fiberglass insulation wraps, or foam/foil pipe tapes that are available at most any hardware or home improvement store.
Frozen water pipes can lead to interruption of water service as well as water damage and costly plumbing repairs.
A customer who needs emergency assistance with shutting off water service because of burst or leaking pipes should call his water provider. Central Arkansas Water’s emergency center number is (501) 377-1239. Utility personnel are available 24 hours a day to respond to emergencies.
For more freeze precaution tips and information, Tynan suggests visiting Central Arkansas Water’s website at carkw.com or call the company’s Customer Service Center at (501) 372-5161.
Do you have a decorating or remodeling question? We’ll get you an answer from an authority. Contact Linda S. Haymes, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, P.O. Box 2221, Little Rock, Ark. 72203 or email:
HomeStyle, Pages 35 on 02/15/2014