Indiana American Water Urges Customers To Prepare For Cold Weather

Last updated on Thursday, December 21, 2017

(GREENWOOD) - Cold weather with single-digit low temperatures is forecasted across much of the state for the Christmas week and Indiana American Water is urging customers to secure homes and businesses against freezing pipes to avoid costly repairs.

"Although the winter season can pose many challenges to a homeowner, one of the biggest and most costly is the risk of frozen pipes. When ice expands inside pipes, it can crack and burst the pipe, leaving homeowners with a costly plumbing bill, and thousands of dollars in damages from water leaking inside the house," said Indiana American Water president, Deborah Dewey.

Luckily, these problems are preventable by evaluating areas of vulnerability throughout the home and taking certain precautions. Implementing the following winterization tips now can help avoid headaches later:

Search your house for uninsulated pipes, especially in unheated areas. Consider wrapping pipes with electric heating tape, but follow manufacturer's instructions carefully to avoid a fire hazard.
Seal cracks and holes in outside walls and foundations with caulking, especially where cable TV or phone lines enter the house, to keep cold winds away from pipes.
If your home is heated by a hot-water radiator, bleed the valves by opening them slightly. Close them when water appears.
Make certain the water to your hose bibs is shut off inside your house (via a turnoff valve), and the lines are drained.
Drain and shut off entirely the water to any unoccupied residence such as a summer or vacation home. A loss of power during a winter storm could cause pipes to freeze. If you intend to leave a property entirely without heat, be sure to drain all water to prevent the possibility of frozen pipes.
Set the thermostat at 55 degrees if you're going out of town. Although you may be able to get away with a lower temperature, this setting is considered to be safe for pipes.
Consider wrapping your water heater in an insulation blanket. While not really at danger for freezing, this can lower your heating bills.

Additional information on preventing frozen pipes is available on online at https://amwater.com/inaw/water-information/wise-water-use.

About Indiana American Water

Indiana American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water and/or wastewater services to more than 1.3 million people. Founded in 1886, American Water is the largest publicly traded U.S. water and wastewater utility company. Marking its 131st anniversary this year, the company employs more than 6,700 dedicated professionals who provide regulated and market-based drinking water, wastewater and other related services to an estimated 15 million people in 47 states and Ontario, Canada. More information can be found at www.amwater.com.

1340 AM WBIW welcomes comments and suggestions by calling 812.277.1340 during normal business hours or by email at comments@wbiw.com

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