With polar-like conditions predicted to bring frigid air to the region this week, New Jersey American Water is urging homeowners to act now to prevent frozen and damaged household pipes.

“Sub-freezing temperatures for an extended period can cause pipes in vulnerable areas to freeze or burst, resulting in costly damage,” said New Jersey American Water Vice President of Operations Thomas Shroba. “Making the necessary preparations for these conditions and learning how to respond to frozen pipes can alleviate the expenses associated with making major repairs.”

Property owners are responsible for maintenance of the water service line from the curb to the house, as well as any in-home piping. During extending periods of sub-freezing temperatures, if you turn on a faucet and only a trickle comes out, suspect a frozen pipe.

New Jersey American Water encourages residents to take the following precautions to reduce the risk of freezing and bursting pipes:

WHEN TEMPERATURES ARE CONSISTENTLY AT OR BELOW FREEZING:

• If you have pipes that are vulnerable to freezing, allow a small trickle of water to run overnight to keep pipes from freezing. The cost of the extra water is low compared to the cost to repair a broken pipe.
• Open cabinet doors to expose pipes to warmer room temperatures to help keep them from freezing.

IF YOUR PIPES FREEZE:

• Shut off the water immediately. Do not attempt to thaw frozen pipes unless the water is off. Freezing can often cause unseen cracks in pipes or joints.
• Apply heat to the frozen pipe by warming the air around it, or by applying heat directly to a pipe. You can use a hair dryer, space heater or hot water. Be sure not to leave space heaters unattended, and avoid the use of kerosene heaters or open flames.
• Once the pipes have thawed, turn the water back on slowly and check for cracks and leaks.

WHEN YOU ARE AWAY:

• Have a friend, relative or neighbor regularly check your property to ensure that the heat is working and the pipes have not frozen.
• Also, a freeze alarm can be purchased for less than $100 and will call a user-selected phone number if the inside temperature drops below 45 degrees.

Being aware of your internal plumbing also can prevent damage to your plumbing system, and New Jersey American Water encourages customers to:

• Know what areas of your home, such as basements, crawl spaces, unheated rooms and outside walls, are most vulnerable to freezing.
• Eliminate sources of cold air near water lines by repairing broken windows, insulating walls, closing off crawl spaces and eliminating drafts near doors.
• Know the location of your main water shut-off valve. If a pipe freezes or bursts, shut the water off immediately.
• Protect your pipes and water meter. Wrap exposed pipes with insulation or use electrical heat tracing wire; newspaper or fabric might also work. For outside meters, keep the lid to the meter pit closed tightly and let any snow that falls cover it. Snow acts as insulation so do not disturb it.

For more helpful tips and to view New Jersey American Water cold weather infographic, visit the Wise Water Use page, on the company’s website at www.newjerseyamwater.com.

HELP REPORT LEAKS

New Jersey American Water also advises that sub-freezing temperatures can cause water mains and service lines to break and cause unsafe driving conditions. If you see a leak or your water service is disrupted, please contact the company’s customer service center at 1-800-272-1325.

New Jersey American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water and/or wastewater services to approximately 2.7 million people. For more information, visit www.newjerseyamwater.com and follow New Jersey American Water on Twitter and Facebook. With a history dating back to 1886, American Water is the largest and most geographically diverse U.S. publicly traded water and wastewater utility company. The company employs more than 7,100 dedicated professionals who provide regulated and market-based drinking water, wastewater and other related services to an estimated 15 million people in 45 states and Ontario, Canada. American Water provides safe, clean, affordable and reliable water services to our customers to make sure we keep their lives flowing. For more information, visit www.amwater.com.

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