Frozen Water Lines: Avoiding & Correcting Them

IRONWOOD, MI - Friday, January 16, 2009 - Water service lines can freeze for various reasons. Many sources of interior problems include unheated crawl spaces or basements, lines located in exterior walls that are poorly insulated or under cupboards that contain very little heat. Sources of exterior problems include shallow water lines above normal frost depth or lines that are not properly insulated.

Simple tips one can take to protect water lines from freezing are the following:

  • Disconnect and drain garden hose and turn off hose bibs
  • Shut off the main water valve when leaving for an extended time; have a friend or neighbor periodically check the home for any problems
  • Seal cracks in foundations, doors and windows
  • Consider insulating water pipes and check periodically that the insulation is dry; wet insulation can be worse than no insulation
  • Open unheated cabinet doors to allow air flow
  • If the use of heat tape is considered, be sure it has the UL seal of approval; it doesn't work if it is not plugged in
  • Plan on "banking" snow around unheated basements or crawl spaces and try to maintain a maximum cover over shallow water and sewer lines
  • Maintain temperatures at least 40 degrees in all basements or crawl spaces where water lines may be located
  • Replace undersized service lines to enhance water flow
  • Bury the service line to a depth of at least six feet AND insulate it
  • Do not use PVC or PEX tubing as an exterior supply; you will not be able to maintain continuity if future problems with freezing occur

To conserve our precious water supply, most communities do not allow one to waste water as an alternative to prevent water lines from freezing without prior approval. Some customers elect to waste water to prevent their water lines from freezing at their own expense. Most municipalities are aware of the "troubled" areas in their systems and authorize only a select number of customers to waste water to protect parts of their public water systems from freezing. As part of various strategic and capital improvement projects, new water mains are installed to enhance water flow in outlying areas and to reduce problems that occur during the winter months.

Wasting water is a temporary and last alternative to prevent water lines from freezing. This "quick fix" increases costs to all water customers. The increase demand can affect the water levels at the water source as well as increasing costs with chemicals, energy and equipment use. Whenever possible customers are asked to make necessary corrections to their private water supply to prevent future problems of freezing.

What happens if there is a water main freeze? Generally, if the freeze occurs on the City's side of the line the water department will thaw the line at no charge to the customer.

Once a freeze up happens at a house, the water department advises the homeowner to allow a steady stream of water to flow (the width of a pencil) at all times. They are told to allow the water to run until they are notified in the spring to shut it off. This is to prevent additional freeze ups. Generally, if a line freezes once, it is going to freeze again! Too many times, as weather warms up, homeowners assume that it is safe to turn the water stream off. What they don't take into account is that air temperature and ground temperature are two very different things. The air may feel warm, but the ground is still frozen below. If a homeowner shuts the water flow off on his own and his supply freezes, he must then hire a private contractor to thaw his lines. City policy does not allow department crews to return, without charge, if the homeowner didn't follow instructions.

Bob Tervonen told the Chronicle that customers that have been authorized to run a stream to prevent freeze ups will not be billed for the additional water usage.

Ideally, new water lines will buried at least six feet deep to prevent freeze ups. Tervonen said that blueboard insulation is often added in new construction as further protection.

SIGNS THAT YOUR WATER LINES MAY BE FREEZING:

(1) discolored water

(2) reduced water flow

(3) colder than normal tap water

When a water line freezes, the problem should be addressed immediately to prevent damages such as split pipes or to prevent other houses from freezes. Water repairs are much more costly in the winter than the summer due to frozen ground conditions.

If water to your house becomes frozen, immediately contact Bob Tervonen at the Memorial Building (906) 932-5050.