American Water Resources Offers Tips for Cold Weather
December 20 2017 - 8:00AM
Business Wire
Protecting your property during a deep
freeze
The onset of winter compels homeowners to protect their homes
from freezing weather. While insulating one’s home can keep out
cold air, water and sewer lines are exposed to the freezing/thawing
temperature swings that put stress on pipes, which could lead to
leaks or breaks.
Broken water service lines, as well as cracks or leaks to
in-home plumbing can potentially cost homeowners thousands of
dollars in unexpected repair expenses. Most homeowners’ insurance
policies do not cover repairs to these pipes. Homeowners can gain
peace of mind in the event of broken pipes, by considering
protection programs for in-home plumbing and external water service
lines available from American Water Resources (AWR).
“It’s important that homeowners take time to weather-proof their
home against the cold to protect indoor plumbing against the threat
of breaks,” said Eric Palm, president of Homeowner Services at
American Water Resources. “Another layer of security is offered
through our protection programs that cover emergency repairs for
leaks or breaks to the water service line and indoor plumbing. We
often see our claims rise in the winter months.”
In order to help homeowners reduce the risk of freezing pipes,
American Water Resources suggests the following winter tips:
- Locate main water shut-off valve to
turn off water in an emergency. This could be in the basement,
crawlspace, or utility closet.
- Check for pipes that pass through
unheated spaces or rooms, such as crawlspaces, basements, garages,
or uninsulated exterior walls.
- Protect exposed pipes by wrapping them
with heat tape, pre-molded foam rubber sleeves or fiberglass
insulation, available at hardware stores. If you have installed
heat tape on exposed pipes, inspect the tape for cracks or fraying
and make any needed repairs.
- Eliminate sources of cold air near
pipes by sealing openings or cracks that could cause drafts.
- Close air vents in crawlspaces.
- Turn off and drain your irrigation
system.
- If you are going to be away, leave your
thermostat at 55 degrees to prevent freezing.
When temperatures consistently fall below freezing
- For kitchen or other sinks up against
cold, exterior walls, open cabinets to let warm air in your home
reach the pipes.
- Allow a small trickle of water to run
overnight to keep pipes from freezing. The cost of the extra water
is typically lower than the cost of repairing a broken pipe.
- If your pipes do freeze, shut off the
water immediately. Do not attempt to thaw frozen pipes unless the
water is shut off.
- Freezing can often cause unseen cracks
in pipes or joints that will leak when thawed.
- Apply heat to a frozen pipe by warming
the air around it. Avoid the use of kerosene heaters or open
flames.
- Once the pipes have thawed, slowly turn
the water back on and check for cracks and leaks.
Even the best efforts to prevent pipe leaks and breaks are not
always successful. To help avoid the hassles associated with
extended disruption of water service should an issue occur,
American Water Resources fully manages in-home plumbing and water
service line protection programs for homeowners. AWR has an
established local contractor network, provides outstanding customer
service, and educates homeowners about their responsibility to
maintain their water and sewer lines. AWR’s protection programs
provide a solution for the potential cost and hassle of unexpected
repairs.
More information about AWR’s protection programs are available
online at www.AWRUSA.com/.
About American Water Resources
American Water Resources offers Service Line Protection Programs
to homeowners in 43 states and Washington, D.C., and currently
services more than 1.8 million contracts. The company has been
providing protection programs for more than 16 years. More than 9
out of 10 customers are satisfied and the company holds an A+
Rating from the Better Business Bureau. American Water Resources
also provides its Protection Programs to homeowners through
municipal partnerships with the New York City Department of
Environmental Protection, Orlando Utilities Commission, Nashville
Metro Water Services and others.
American Water Resources is part of American Water Enterprises,
a market-based subsidiary of American Water. For more information,
visit the American Water Resources website at AWRUSA.com.
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 6,800
dedicated professionals who provide regulated and market-based
drinking water, wastewater and other related services to an
estimated 15 million people in 47 states and Ontario, Canada. More
information can be found by visiting www.amwater.com.
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version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171220005464/en/
American Water ResourcesRichard G. BarnesCorporate
Communications Manager856-782-2364richard.barnes@amwater.com
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