Funviralpark DENVER (KDVR) – Temperatures will drop to dangerously low values in parts of the US over the next few days as the Arctic front moves.
It’s important to take precautions to keep you and your home safe during extreme cold temperatures. In other words, there are ways to prepare for this cold wave and prevent disasters from occurring.
how to prepare the house before it gets cold
Denver Water provided a list of things to do prior to the cold weather move.
- Know where your home’s shut-off valves are, because if your water pipe breaks, you’ll need to shut off the water to minimize damage. Valves are found in the basement or crawl space of most single-family homes on street-facing walls.
- All family members should know how to turn off the water.
- Water pipes that are vulnerable to cold, such as along the outer wall or in an unheated basement, need to be insulated.
What to do when extreme cold arrives
Denver Water says it will do the following as soon as the temperature drops.
- Cabinet doors leading to exposed pipes should be left open to allow domestic air to warm the door.
- Keep the attached garage door closed. Plumbing can run through this unheated space, making it vulnerable to cold weather.
- Turn on the faucet furthest from where water enters your home. It drips very slowly, keeping the water molecules moving and reducing the risk of pipe freezing. You can also store the water dripping from the faucet in a bucket.
- Set your thermostat above 65 degrees when you leave your home or office for a few days.
What to do if you suspect a pipe is frozen
Denver Water warns that it should not be ignored.
- Unzip the pipe yourself or contact a plumber as soon as possible.
- Turn off the water or test the stopcock to prevent sudden spurts of water from the pipes when defrosting yourself.
- Note that it is better to go slow when thawing, as heating too quickly can break the pipe. Using a hair dryer to defrost the pipe is fine, but a blow torch is not.
