LIMA, OH (WLIO) - The extreme cold weather can cause many problems for homeowners, and the City of Lima doesn't want frozen water pipes to be one of them.
The easiest way to prevent water lines from freezing is to let a "pencil lead" size stream of water run out of one of your faucets, as moving water doesn't freeze.
The easiest way to prevent water lines from freezing is to let a "pencil lead" size stream of water run out of one of your faucets, as moving water doesn't freeze. You can also put insulation around your pipes if they come into the house in an unheated area like a cellar. But the most important thing is "not" to use an open flame to try and thaw your pipes if they do freeze.
"If you take a hairdryer and put it on a medium setting, feel that pipe, and usually you can go through that pipe, and where it really gets cold, that's probably where the freeze-up is. Take that hair dryer and just kind of gently run it back and forth across the pipes and that will thaw out," explained Mike Caprella, Lima Utilities Director.
Caprella says it's important to make sure everyone knows where the main water shutoff valve is in case of an actual break.
Caprella says it's important to make sure everyone knows where the main water shutoff valve is in case of an actual break. If you can't get your line unfrozen, give the utilities department a call at (419) 221-5252, and they will come out and assist you.
