Does your house have a
water shut-off valve inside?

Please be pro-active in taking a few simple precautions and save yourself the mess, money, and aggravation frozen pipes cause.

The Public Works Department has experienced many calls from residents this year to turn off water after pipes have frozen and broken. In the time that it takes for us to respond much damage could have taken place.

What’s the solution?

Besides moving to Florida, installing a water shutoff valve inside your home is recommended. In the event of an emergency, a shutoff valve will provide the means to immediately shut off the water, preventing a catastrophe if you are not at home.

A local plumber can perform this installation. Once installed it is important to make sure that everyone in your household is aware of the location of the valve. The valve should be operated periodically to prevent it from seizing up. If your home is already equipped with a shutoff valve, verify its location and ensure that it works.

In addition to having a valve installed pipes exposed to cold air should be properly insulated to further prevent problems. When temperatures drop below freezing, the pipes in the exterior walls and under your house could be affected. When water freezes inside a pipe, it expands and inevitably ruptures the pipe. Water damage can and will occur in a short amount of time. Wrap insulation around water pipes that are close to the ground or in unheated spaces such as the attic.

Disconnect garden hoses from all outdoor faucets. Turn off outside water lines, and then open the outside spigots to drain any water still in the pipes. This reduces the chance of freezing in the short span of pipe just inside the house.

For more information, contact Mark Chandler at 410-479-5446.