Frozen Pipe Nightmares!

JFK recorded a low temperature of 6 degrees farenheit with accompanyng wind gusts of 28 mph yesterday morning at 7:27 am. 

Needless to say, there were several residents of West 12th Road who found that their domestic water system pipes had frozen and then had to deal with the possible  nightmare scenario of "burst water pipes!"

Fortunately, as far as I am aware, everyone was able to secure assistance to thaw their pipes without any additional damage.

There are a few things you can do to prevent the problem of freezing pipes from occurring again.

Leave the faucet drip slightly as a trickle. The dripping water will keep the water in the pipe from freezing.

Open sink base cabinets and let warmer room air circulate.

Open sink base cabinets and place a small portable heater near or in it to heat the pipes

Wrap the problem pipe with electrical heat tape.

Insulate the problem pipes with foam insulation wrap, especially those that run through unheated spaces.

Temper the currently unheated crawlspace by placing a heater in the crawlspace. You just need to elevate the crawlspace temperature to modestly above freezing, about 40°F.

Although the artic air mass which caused our temperature to plummet Monday morning has receded for now, you should know that another, equally cold, artic front is set to innundate our area next Sunday night!