Prevent winter water disasters

To prevent winter water disasters follow these tips:

• Winterize your outdoor hose bibbs and irrigation systems to prevent frozen and broken pipes.
• Keep the outside valve open so that any water remaining in the pipe can expand without causing the pipe to break.
• Locate and label the main water shutoff valve for your home.
• Consider wrapping or insulating water pipes, especially pipes near outside walls, under the house or in the attic.

Visit us on the web at http://www.russobrosplumbing.com for additional tips, seasonal specials and coupons. Also find out how you can earn money through our referral program.

Tips to unthaw a frozen pipe

Last week’s tip addressed how to prevent a frozen pipe. Now we look at what to do if a pipe does freeze:

• Shut off the water at the main shutoff valve and open the faucet nearest to the frozen pipe so it can drain as it thaws.
• Waterproof the area with containers and plastic drop clothes in case leaks occur.

Use one of the following methods to gradually warm the frozen pipe. Be sure to work from the faucet toward the iced-up area.

• Run a hair dryer like a torch over the frozen section to gently defrost the pipe.
• Wrap a heating pad around a length of the frozen pipe.
• Leave a vanity or cabinet door open to circulate warm air around pipes.
  

Remember, Russo Bros. & Co. technicians are equipped with professional pipe thawing equipment and can tackle any emergency.

Tips for Preventing Frozen Pipes

When the cold weather hits, your pipes may be in danger of freezing. Any faucet or plumbing fixture that will not provide water may be frozen. If you act quickly you may prevent a burst pipe, an expensive repair, and a nasty clean up:
· If you think a pipe is in danger of freezing; keep trickles of water running through the faucet.
· It may be necessary during extremely cold weather to leave a vanity or cabinet door open to circulate warm air around pipes.
· Inspect exposed water pipes (especially those running along outside walls) and use foam insulation to wrap the pipes.
· Keeps doors open between heated and unheated rooms

Could you turn off the water in an emergency?

It’s a New Year and time to review some of the basics of plumbing safety:

• If the emergency involves a specific fixture or appliance, first look for its shutoff valve and turn it clockwise to shut off the water to that fixture or appliance only.
• The valve is usually located underneath a fixture such as a sink or a toilet, or behind an appliance, such as a clothes washer, at the point where the water supply pipe (or pipes) connects to it.
• If the problem is not with a particular fixture or appliance, or if there's no shutoff valve for the fixture or appliance, use the main shutoff valve to turn off the water supply to the entire house.
• You'll find the main shutoff valve on the inside or outside of your house where the main water supply pipe enters. In cold climates, look just inside the foundation wall in the basement or crawl space. Turn the valve clockwise to shut it off.
• If you need a wrench to turn the valve, keep one, specially labeled near the valve so it's handy.
• Tag the main shut off and water meter with two phone numbers; the water company’s and 1-800-MR-RUSSO (1-800-677-8776)
• If the main shutoff valve itself is defective and needs to be repaired, call your water company; they can send someone out with the special tool that's required to shut off the water at the street before it reaches the valve.
• Ask any Russo Bros. & Co. technician to tag these shut offs so they can be found easily in an emergency.