Georgetown Water Department Offers Tips to Prevent Frozen Pipes

GEORGETOWN — The Georgetown Water Department would like to provide residents with tips to prevent frozen pipes this winter.

Outdoor pipes, including outdoor hose bibs, swimming pool supply lines, and water sprinkler lines, often freeze when exposed to severe cold. Indoor pipes also are prone to freeze, such as in unheated interior areas like basements and crawl spaces, attics, garages, or kitchen cabinets, and in pipes that run against exterior walls with little or no insulation.

Freezing water expands, which can put pressure on a pipe, making it susceptible to bursting. A burst pipe can cause significant water damage to a home and be costly to repair.

Residents who encounter water flow issues should first contact the Water Department directly at 978-352-5750 to determine whether the problem is systemic.

“We ask residents to follow these useful tips to avoid the potential of any damage to their homes,” Utility Director Marlene Ladderbush said. “Most importantly, we ask residents whose houses will be vacant for a period to not shut the heat off. Lowering the thermostat will save money, but the damage caused by burst pipes will cost much more to repair.”

To avoid or thaw frozen pipes this winter, the Water Department shares the following tips provided by the American Red Cross:

Preventing Frozen Pipes

  • Drain water from supply lines to swimming pools and water sprinklers.
  • Remove, drain, and store hoses used outdoors. Close inside valves supplying outdoor hose bibs. Open outside hose bibs to allow water to drain. Keep the outside valve open so water remaining in the pipe can expand without causing the pipe to break.
  • Add insulation to attics, basements, and crawl spaces.
  • Check around the home for areas where water supply lines are in unheated areas, including the garage and under kitchen and bathroom cabinets. All water pipes in these areas should be insulated.
  • Consider installing products made to insulate water pipes like a pipe sleeve, UL-listed heat tape or heat cable.
  • Keep garage doors closed.
  • Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate. Be sure to move any harmful cleaners and household chemicals out of the reach of children.
  • If the temperature drops, keep one or two faucets running slowly. Moving water helps prevent pipes from freezing.
  • Set thermostats to the same temperature day and night. If you will be away during cold weather, set your thermostat no lower than 55° F.

Thawing Frozen Pipes

  • If you turn on a faucet and only a trickle comes out, assume a pipe is frozen. Locate the area that might be frozen. Likely places include pipes running against exterior walls or where your water service enters your home through the foundation.
  • Open faucets. As the frozen area begins to melt, water moving through the pipe will help melt ice.
  • Apply heat to the section of pipe. Wrap an electric heating pad around the pipe, use an electric hair dryer, or wrap pipes with towels soaked in hot water. Do NOT use an open flame — a blowtorch, kerosene or propane heater, charcoal stove, or other devices. A blowtorch can make water in a frozen pipe boil and cause the pipe to explode. All open flames in homes present a serious fire danger and a severe risk of exposure to lethal carbon monoxide.
  • Call a licensed plumber if you are unable to locate the frozen area, if the frozen area is not accessible or if you cannot thaw the pipe.
  • Check all other faucets in your home for additional frozen pipes. If one pipe freezes, others may freeze too.

If a Pipe Bursts

  • Locate your home’s main water valve and shut off the water supply.
  • Call a plumber immediately.
  • Remove water as quickly as possible to minimize damage.

Georgetown Water Department Reminds Residents to Promptly Repair Service Line Leaks

GEORGETOWN – The Georgetown Water Department wishes to remind residents that homeowners are responsible for repairing service line leaks on their property, according to the department’s regulations.

The Department recently collaborated with Seacoast Leak Detection Services to survey Georgetown’s water infrastructure. The survey turned up five service line leaks on private property. Service lines are the pipes from the curb box to a home or building’s water meter.

Service line issues can cause flow and pressure problems and possibly flooding.

Under Department regulations, property owners are required to maintain these service lines, including repairing leaks that may arise, as a condition of continued water service. All repairs must be completed under the supervision of the Water Department.

“It’s important that homeowners maintain lines from curb stop to meter in order to prevent water waste, which can have a significant impact on water bills and depletes a precious resource,” said Marlene Ladderbush, Utility Director for the Georgetown Water Department. “These services can be prone to failure. We are happy to work with residents in scheduling repairs with our suggested contractors, to protect the integrity of our water service.”

Homeowners who do not repair leaks in a reasonable period may see their water service disconnected. Homeowners will incur a $200 reconnection fee once the required repairs are made.

Residents with questions about leaks, or have general questions, may contact the Water Office at 978-352-5750, during normal business hours, Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

*Joint Release* Georgetown Water and Fire Departments Announce Planned Hose Pressure Testing

GEORGETOWN — The Georgetown Water and Fire Departments announce that the Fire Department will be conducting an annual hose pressure test next week.

The hose pressure testing will take place on Wednesday, Aug. 26.  An independent safety service will conduct the tests by putting water through the fire department’s hose inventory at the maximum service pressure to ensure the hoses continue to be safe for use.

“This annual testing is an important step for the Fire Department to ensure our equipment remains safe and effective for use in town in the event of an emergency,” said Chief Fred Mitchell.

The testing will take place on Martel Way, which is located within a commercial zone in an effort to minimize the disruption to residential customers. However, residents in this area may see some effects of higher than normal water pressure in the system, including temporary water discoloration or water pressure disruption.

“This mandated testing is an important way to ensure that the system is working properly should a fire occur in our community,” Utility Director Marlene Ladderbush said. “We recognize the inconvenience this can have on our residents and businesses and apologize in advance for any inconvenience or disruption that may occur. We thank residents for their understanding.”

 

 

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