SPOKANE, Wash. – As frigid temperatures roll through the Inland Northwest, the Whitworth Water District offers tips on avoiding freezing water lines and what not to do if a line is already frozen.
Here are some tips and tricks to avoid a frozen water line during freezing temperatures:
Heat all rooms of your house that have plumbing fixtures. Pipes in unheated rooms are more likely to freeze, causing excessive damage. If you have pipes on an outside wall, leave cabinet doors open to allow heat to disperse from the room.Keep meter box lids closed to prevent cold air from freezing the meter. Only remove snow if you have to to help insulate the meter.If you experience consistent problems during freezing periods and have tried all solutions, Whitworth Water District said you can leave a trickle of water running from the faucet highest in the house. This trickle should be a steady stream slightly larger than the lead of a pencil.
If you already have a frozen pipe and don’t know your next steps, here’s what you can do:
Never try to thaw a frozen pipe with an open flame. “Use hot air from a hair dryer, the exhaust from a vacuum cleaner, heat lamps, heat tape, or electric heaters to thaw a frozen pipe,” Whitworth Water District said. You can also use an incandescent lightbulb to thaw pipes slowly. Place the bulb next to the frozen pipe, keeping it away from combustible material to avoid starting a fire. “Today’s LED bulbs don’t let off much heat and likely won’t be useful for this purpose,” Whitworth Water District said.
