As the days grow shorter and the chill in the air deepens, it’s time to gear up for winter preparedness in the beautiful city of Asheville. This month, staff will share information dedicated to ensuring that you and your loved ones stay safe, warm, and prepared for the frosty months ahead. Let’s make sure you’re ready for winter. Whether you’re a longtime Asheville resident or new to the city, these tips will help you make the most of the winter months ahead.
Today’s tips on prevention and best practices to avoid frozen pipes, are provided by the Water Resources Team.
Recommendations for your home:
- Disconnect and drain all garden hoses and install covers on outside faucets.
- Keep garage doors closed.
- Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing.
- Identify water shut-off valve locations, and know how to operate them.
- Wrap pipes nearest exterior walls and in crawl spaces with pipe insulation or heating tape.
- Regulate indoor temperature around the clock, primarily by keeping your thermostat set to the same temperature during the day and at night. Temporarily suspending the use of lower thermostat settings at night may raise your heating bill, but it can lower the chances of a frozen and busted pipe causing potentially serious damage to your home. Water damage repairs are expensive, and can potentially displace you from your home for weeks or months at a time.
- Close all windows near water pipes, and cover or close open-air vents. Freezing temperatures combined with drafts of cold air can raise the likelihood that pipes will freeze.
- Set faucets at a slow drip when extreme cold is in the weather forecast if pipe insulation or other suggested tips are not applicable. For example, if the temperature isn’t expected to rise above freezing, even during daylight hours,you should drip those faucets!
Recommendations if a pipe freezes in your home:
- Start thawing the pipe nearest to the faucet. Make sure the faucet is turned on so that melted water can drip out.
- Pipes can be thawed by using a good hair dryer ( Avoid electric shock, do not operate a hair dryer close to standing or puddled water!). Another method to safely thaw frozen pipes is to heat water on the stove, soak towels in the hot water, and wrap them around cold sections of the pipes. Never try to thaw frozen pipes with torches or other means using extreme heat or flame. If heated too quickly, waterlines can explode and cause serious injury.
- If a pipe bursts, shut off the water at the main valve. If the break is in a hot water pipe, the valve on top of the water heater should be closed. Keep an emergency or after-hours number for a plumber nearby, and call one as quickly as possible.
Contacts and emergency procedures:
If you believe that your water meter is frozen; contact Water Resources Department customer service by calling 828-251-1122.
A technician will come to your home to verify that water is flowing as it should through the meter. All pipes and plumbing on the house side of the meter are considered private and are the customer’s responsibility.
In an emergency the Water Resources Department is available 24/7. The City does not assist customers with indoor plumbing issues but can cut off the water source to help mitigate the situation if a break occurs. Should you need assistance, call customer service at 828-251-1122.