Home › News › Local
Colder weather brings risk of frozen pipes, water officials say
Water-wise
After temperatures dipped to the mid-teens on Thursday, the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority got about 200 calls from people who had frozen pipes.
The Water Utility Authority has tips on how to protect your pipes this winter:
Disconnect and drain outdoor hoses: Detaching the hose allows water to drain from the pipe so an overnight freeze doesn't burst the faucet or pipe.
Shut down the sprinkler system: Turn off the automatic timer and drain the system of water.
Insulate pipes or faucets: Wrap water pipes in unheated areas (garages, basements, crawl space or space beneath a mobile home) before temperatures drop.
Install heat tape or heat cable: Install heat tape or similar materials on exposed water pipes. Heat tape can be found at hardware and building supply stores.
Seal off access door, air vents and cracks: Winter winds blowing through overlooked openings can freeze exposed water pipes. Don't plug air vents used by the furnace or heater.
Find the master shut-off valve: The valve turns off the water to the entire house. Learn its location and make sure everyone in the household knows where it is. This could be critical if a pipe bursts.
Call a plumber: If a pipe on your property freezes, call a licensed plumber to help you thaw it out and/or make necessary repairs. If a pipe bursts and you need an emergency shut-off, call 857-8250.
More Local
- ABQTrib.com to remain available
- Former Marine to serve two years in jail for killing Albuquerque robber
- Wilson-Pearce battle for U.S. Senate exemplifies party's disparity
MOST RECENT TRIB STORIES
-
ABQTrib.com to remain available
08:48 a.m., February 25, 2008 -
Congressman is indicted
08:37 a.m., February 23, 2008 -
Series of attacks target Green Zone
08:36 a.m., February 23, 2008 -
Iran is defying U.N., agency says
08:35 a.m., February 23, 2008 -
Waterboarding approval probed
08:34 a.m., February 23, 2008
TRIB IN THE BLOGOSPHERE*
- Ty Murray Invitational thrills fans in Albuquerque
- Is Rome Burning?
- Ominous Skies
- The Road to Invalidation
- Albuquerque company participates in “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”
*Note: The Tribune does not create and is not responsible for the blogosphere's headlines and stories. These links to blogs talking about ABQTrib.com are automatically generated. Use them at your own risk.
STORY TOOLS
SHARE THIS STORY [?]
During the holiday season, the last thing that might cross your mind is taking care of your water pipes.
However, water officials say preparing for winter can allow people to only spend money on presents, and not plumbing.
"It's easy to forget about things like your pipes in the excitement of the holidays, but it's vital to remember those things because that's the type of oversight that can bring holiday fun to a quick end," said Davis Morris, spokesman for Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Authority.
With the drop in temperatures lately, the water authority has experienced an increase in calls from people whose pipes have frozen.
Morris said on a normal day, they won't get any calls about frozen pipes.
However, after temperatures dropped to the mid-teens Thursday night, the calls came pouring in the next day.
The water authority received about 200 calls Friday from people whose pipes froze.
Morris said winter creeps up on people and they don't realize the precautions they need to take. He said that might account for the floods of calls that came in Friday.
"I suspect we get lulled into a false security, because we have a warm and beautiful fall and people might not realize winter is just around the corner," he said.
Ideally, October or November is when people should start taking precautions, said Morris.
However, many people forget and now that the temperatures are in the teens, it is especially crucial.
"Anytime the temperature goes below freezing for more than a day, you run a risk of pipes freezing," he said.
On Nov. 27 the authority sent out tips for protecting your pipes.
They reissued the statement because of the freezing temperatures and the many phone calls.
Morris said if he could give one piece of advice to people, it would be to disconnect their hoses outside and insulate the exposed pipes.
Derron Havenor, owner of Allied Plumbing, 5915 Fourth St. N.W., said pipe damage could be costly.
He said the most common pipe burst is an outside one that is connected to a hose. Most of the time broken pipes are on the outside of the house.
He said those pipes can cost a person about $100.
Morris said flood damage caused by broken pipes could cost thousands of dollars.
To avoid the problem of pipes freezing, people should use plastic foam covers on their hoses and disconnect all their hoses from their pipes, said Havenor.
He said it is quite common for people to call a plumber as their last resort, especially during the holidays.
"For the most part, people are out of money (because of Christmas spending), they only call for emergency," he said.
Havenor said people often ignore water utility problems.
"People assume the house is built in a way that the pipes won't freeze," he said.
He said it is important to take care of your pipes outside, because it is those that freeze and break.
Morris and Havenor said that, ultimately, they hope people are water-wise, so they can spend their holidays knee-deep in debt, not water.
