2023-10-16 17:00Blog post

Avoid Frozen Pipes This Winter

Avoid Frozen Pipes This Winter

Before the cold sets in, locate your main water shut-off valve and hang an I.D. tag on it so you can find it quickly in an emergency. In many homes, it is located near the water meter or close to where the water pipe enters the home. Note: If your pipes do freeze, you will need to be able to turn off your water immediately. Do NOT attempt to thaw the pipes without doing so.

It’s a good idea to test your main water shut-off valve to be sure it works properly. To test, slowly close it. If you have a ball valve, it generally only requires a quarter turn to close. Gate valves are generally closed by turning the handle clockwise and should turn easily. You may need to have it serviced if it does not close easily.

Once the shut-off valve is completely closed, check sinks and other water fixtures to make sure you found the main water valve and that it is working properly.

Need a tag? Click below to download the print-ready file.

 

 

 

 


Other ways you can help avoid frozen pipes this winter:

 



About American Water

American Water (NYSE: AWK) is the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States. With a history dating back to 1886, We Keep Life Flowing® by providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable drinking water and wastewater services to more than 14 million people with regulated operations in 14 states and on 18 military installations. American Water’s 6,500 talented professionals leverage their significant expertise and the company’s national size and scale to achieve excellent outcomes for the benefit of customers, employees, investors and other stakeholders. As one of the fastest growing utilities in the U.S., American Water expects to invest $30 to $34 billion in infrastructure repairs and replacement, system resiliency and regulated acquisitions over the next 10 years. The company has a long-standing history of executing its core operations, aligned with sustainable best practices, through its commitments to safety, affordability, customer service, protecting the environment, an inclusive workforce and strengthening communities. American Water has been recognized on the 2023 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index for the fifth consecutive year, ranked 18th on Barron’s 100 Most Sustainable U.S. Companies 2023 List, earned the U.S. Department of Homeland Security SAFETY Act designation and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense® Excellence Award, among additional state, local and national recognitions. For more information, visit amwater.com.