MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Morgantown Utility Board (MUB) is reminding residents about the dangers of freezing pipes in cold weather and some simple steps to avoid it happening in your home.
Some steps to take before the cold arrives are to wrap pipes with insulated covers, foam rubber, or heat tape. Heat tape can be set to turn on when temperatures drop to a certain level. If you plan to be out of town for an extended period, shut the water off and then drain the lines, or call a neighbor or trusted friend to check the property daily.
Director of Communications Chris Dale said if your pipes do freeze in the coming days, never use an open flame to thaw them out. Heating up the room or cabinet where the pipes are is a good way to start the process, but never use an open flame in any part of the process.
“If a pipe does freeze in your home, do not use a device with an open flame; devices that use open flames, like torches and heaters, can not only cause the water to boil and the pipe to explode but can cause damage to the fittings,” Dale said. “A better solution is to soak towels in hot water and wrap them around the pipe.”
In the kitchen or bathroom, Dale said you can gain a few degrees by keeping cabinet doors open to allow room temperature air into the space.
“If your home has pipes that run through exterior walls to under-sink cabinets, leave the cabinet doors open so warm air can circulate,” Dale said. “But remember, if you do leave cabinet doors open, remove harmful chemicals and place them out of the reach of children.”
Opening a faucet to a trickle is also a way to prevent pipes from freezing and the possibility of costly repairs.
“One of the most basic ways to prevent pipes from freezing is by simply opening interior faucets so a trickle of continuous water flows,” Dale said. “However, when doing this, make sure the drain receiving the water is not prone to freezing.”
He said not every instance of pipes freezing can be the responsibility of the homeowner. MUB crews can do an initial survey if there is no water in the home at no charge that can save the property a lot of money.
“In any situation where your home is entirely without water, please call MUB at 304-292-8443 before calling a plumber,” Dale said. “If the issue is on MUB’s side, such as a frozen meter, we will repair it at no charge to the customer. If the issue is on the customer’s side, we will notify the customer of this without charge. This can save the customer significant dollars.