|
During and after the freeze if you find that your water is not working, it is not necessary to call the City of Baker Utility/Water Department. There will not be any shut-offs or disconnections during this time. Your pipes may be frozen.
Please consider the following recommendations to avoid frozen pipes:
Before freezing weather:
1. Wrap all exposed pipes located outside or in unheated areas of the home.Remove garden hoses from outside faucets. Insulate outside faucets with Styrofoam covers, rags or paper.
2. Cover vents around your home's foundation.
3. Know where your property owner’s cut-off valve is located and how to use it.
4. Keep garage doors closed if there are water supply lines in the garage.
5. Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing. Be sure to move any harmful cleaners and household chemicals up out of the reach of children.
6. When the weather is very cold outside, let the cold water drip from the faucet served by exposed pipes. Running water through the pipe—even at a trickle—helps prevent pipes from freezing.
7. Keep the thermostat set to the same temperature both during the day and at night. By temporarily suspending the use of lower nighttime temperatures, you may incur a higher heating bill, but you can prevent a much more costly repair job if pipes freeze and burst.
If you will be traveling during cold weather, leave the heater on in your home, set to a temperature no lower than 55 degrees Fahrenheit
In subfreezing weather
1. Drip outside faucets 24 hours a day (5 drops a minute). This is not necessary unless temperatures are expected to be 28 degrees or below for at least four hours. (Be sure to turn off the faucets after the threat of freezing weather.)
2. Open cabinet doors under sinks adjacent to outside walls.
3. In unheated garages, shut off water to washing machines. Water softeners should be drained and protected from freezing temperatures.
4. During sustained subfreezing weather events, let water drip slowly from inside faucets.
5. Take extra precautions to protect pipes that have frozen in the past.
Irrigation Systems
The City of Baker encourages all customers to turn off irrigation systems during winter months to help conserve water. However, businesses that continue to operate landscape irrigation systems are asked to shut their systems off to prevent icing over pedestrian areas and damage caused by freezing conditions.
|
