Mints ym Homeowners mt ret et et eet Bomb Cyclone Preparedness: @ Four Easy Steps To Help Prevent Water-Pipe Damage (NAPSA)—'The unusually cold tem- peratures that the country is currently experiencing will cause all kinds of chaos, including frozen water pipes. If the pipes burst as a result of the cold, this can be a major nightmare—but something that can be prevented with the properprecautions. For climates that rarely see extremely cold temperatures like what we're currently experiencing with the ‘bomb cyclone’ weather system, water pipes are particularly vulnerable to freezing due to a lack of insulation aroundthepipes. Prevent Problems Hereare a few tips from Johns Manville to help prevent frozen waterpipes: 1. If you know temperatures are going to be extremely cold, keep thermostats high and open cabinet doors under sinks that are located on outside walls. 2. Leave water dripping on all fau- cets, for two-handle faucets, have hot ANDcold water dripping. 3. Wrap exposed water pipes with insulation. 4, Add insulation to walls to help keep the hidden pipes protected as well. “Adding insulation to exposed water pipesis one ofthe easiest DIY home-improvementprojects to do,” says Tommy Knappich, VP and General Manager of Building Insulation at Johns Manville. “If you take further preventative measure in the future, adding wall insula- tion is not a difficult task and will help protect thosepipes that are not exposed, and keep your home more comfortable in all types of weather” HowToTell How will you know if your pipes have frozen? You'll turn the faucet on and nothing will happen. ‘This is the best-case scenario because it can be easily remedied. What you dont want to happen is for the pipes to burst as a result of being frozen. If you notice that a pipe has frozen, search exposed pipes for the frozen area: Feel the pipes with your hand to find the area of the pipe that is colder than others. Look for drips coming from thepipe, or frost build-up on thepipe. e Use a screwdriver handle or another bluntobject, to gently tap the pipelistening for a “solid” sound. What To Do Quick action to thaw the pipe will help prevent bursting. Once you've found where the pipe has frozen, here’s how to unthawit: e Turn the faucet on, also turn on nearbyfaucets to a trickle. The water from adjoining faucets may get to the frozen section and help thaw the ice. Use a hair dryer and run it back and forth along the pipe. Make sure to keep it moving any uneven or sudden heating can rupturethepipe. Addsalt to the frozen drain. Wrap the pipe in hot towels, replacing them ever 5-10 minutes until the wateris running. DO NOT add boiling water to the pipe—a sudden temperature change will cause the pipeto burst. “Adding insulation can be a weekend project that will create peace-ofmind during these extreme weather situations, said Knappich. “Installing the insulation properly can be just as important as adding insulation. For instance, ensuring the insulation is split around pipes so that a portion of the insulation is between the pipe and the wall will keep the pipe from being exposed to more cold” Learn More For more information about how to insulate your home for comfort and energy efficiency please consult Johns Manville’s helpful how-to videos at www.jm.com/diyvideos.
