Freezing temps can mean freezing pipes:
City of Pasco Public Works Operations staff will come out and thaw or replace frozen/broken water meters and address leaks in the meter box. But many times, the water pipes freeze in homes. There are a few things that you can do to greatly reduce the likelihood of water pipes freezing:
- Run a small stream (about the size of a pencil) of cold water in a sink
- Open cabinet doors under sinks to let the warmer air circulate around the plumbing
- Use heat tape on exposed pipes that are in cold areas like attics, basements, and crawl spaces
- Adding insulation to attics, basements, and crawl spaces will help keep those colder areas warmer
- Make sure that garden hoses are disconnected from water spigots
- Keep garage doors closed, especially if there are water supply pipes in the garage
- If you are going to be away from home during cold weather, don’t turn off the heat in your home
If the pipes in your home freeze, there are some steps to take and try to thaw them out:
- Turn on the faucet. As the ice begins to melt in the pipe, the water will begin flowing. As cold as the water is, flowing water will help further melt the ice in the pipe
- Apply heat to the frozen pipe. Using a heating pad, hair dryer, space heater, or even towels soaked in hot water can help thaw frozen pipes. Avoid using open flames like a torch to thaw pipes; you don’t want to start a fire
- Once the water starts to flow, let it keep flowing until your full pressure is restored so you know that all of the ice is out of the pipe
- If you can’t find the frozen pipe or can’t get the pipe thawed out yourself, you may have to call a licensed plumber for assistance
If you have any questions, or need help with your water meter, call Public Works Operations at (509) 545-3463 or use the AskPasco app at www.pasco-wa.gov/askpasco