News

With Winter on Its Way, the RWA Urges Consumers To Protect Their Plumbing

Dec 18, 2023

NEW HAVEN, Conn. — Dec. 18, 2023 — With the arrival of winter on Thursday, the Regional Water Authority (RWA) is advising customers to protect their home plumbing from freezing temperatures.

“Cold winters are a fact of life here in New England,” said Jim Hill, General Manager and Head of Operations at the RWA. “Just like you bundle up to protect yourself from winter’s cold, you should also protect your home from the damage that can result when water pipes freeze and burst. With awareness and preparation, you can avoid significant cost and inconvenience.”

The RWA is responsible for maintaining the water pipes and service lines that connect at the curb to customers’ homes and businesses, but not those located on customer property, including interior plumbing.

Water expands when it freezes, which can cause pipes to burst and lead to flooding. Pipes and appliances located outside the home are most vulnerable, but interior plumbing can also freeze, especially in unheated areas such as basements, garages, attics and cabinets, as well as pipes that run along exterior-facing walls.

You can protect your pipes from potential damage by taking the following steps:

Outside the home:

• If your home does not have indoor shut-off valves for outdoor spigots, winterize them by purchasing insulation kits, also referred to as spigot domes or caps.
• Ensure water meter vault covers are not cracked. If the meter is installed outside the home, it is housed inside a covered vault. Check that the vault cover is secure and protecting the meter from freezing.
• Keep the garage door closed.

Inside the home:

• Wrap exposed pipes with insulating material. Even newspaper can provide temporary protection in a pinch.
• Eliminate cold air sources near water lines by repairing broken windows, insulating walls and closing off crawl spaces. Install weather stripping and door sweeps on drafty doors.
• Open kitchen and bathroom cabinets to allow warm air to circulate around the plumbing. (Be sure to move harmful household products out of reach of children.)
• During extreme cold, let cold water drip from faucets served by exposed pipes or pipes that have frozen in the past. This can help stop pipes from freezing. Increase the flow for a deep freeze.
• If you plan to be away from home during cold weather, leave the heat set to at least 55 degrees. Have a trusted friend, relative or neighbor check in regularly to ensure the heat is working and to check for frozen or burst pipes.
• If you are planning an extended absence, consider shutting off water at the home’s main valve; then, open faucets and flush toilets to “bleed out” any water that might remain in the plumbing.
• Visually inspect the basement or crawl space, and any other vulnerable areas, on a regular basis, looking for pipes that are covered in frost, swollen or dripping. Be alert for other signs of frozen pipes, such as a faucet that stops running or slows to a trickle.

If you suspect a frozen pipe, immediately shut off water via your home’s main valve. Open faucets and flush toilets to bleed off any remaining water. Contact a licensed plumber to thaw frozen pipes, assess damage and make repairs.

Never use hot water, a torch or any open flame to thaw a frozen pipe or water meter.

For additional tips and information, go to www.rwater.com and follow the RWA’s social media accounts.