Protect Your Water Main In Sub-Zero Temperatures In Golden Valley

Press release from the City of Golden Valley:

February 12, 2021

Water lines can freeze during extremely cold weather, leaving people without running water, usually due to a lack of air flow and heat circulating near the water main in homes. The City’s Utility Maintenance Department wants to remind residents to take extra measures to prevent their water lines from freezing.

• Ensure your water meter area has adequate heat and check for any cold drafts. If the meter is in a well room, leave the door open to let the heat in. Meters need about three feet in all directions to keep good ventilation to help prevent freezing
• Open cabinets along outside walls that have water pipes in or behind them.
• If your water enters under your garage floor, keep the overhead garage door shut to keep cold air out.
• If you are a low volume water user or have had your water service line freeze in the past, you may want to consider running additional water in your home during a deep freeze. Also, if you take the temperature of your water and find that it is close to 32 degrees, run your water so a pencil-lead-thin stream of water flows from the faucet to prevent water pipes from freezing. Remember to shut off the tap when the risk of freezing has passed.
• If your line is already frozen, once it has been thawed out, it is essential to keep the water running continuously. Turning the water off, even for a few minutes, could cause the once frozen line to re-freeze.

For more information on water line freeze-ups, click here.

This press release was produced by the City of Golden Valley. The views expressed here are the author’s own.