Indianapolis—
An early morning water break on the city's west side created a mess for the morning commute. Water was spilling onto 16th Street near Tibbs Avenue for hours. Crews shut down one lane of traffic but water quickly drifted over to the second lane. With temperatures below freezing, the water froze creating slick spots that drivers had to carefully navigate around.
It's a reminder to all of us about sub-freezing temperatures and the risk of pipes bursting in our own homes. Veolia Water has tips to avoid a similar situation:
- Leave a thin stream of water running
- Continuous water flow can keep your pipes and plumbing fixtures from freezing.
- Open doors below sinks
- Prevent sink pipes from freezing by opening vanity or cabinet doors. This allows warm air to circulate and can keep sink pipes from freezing.
- Eliminate drafts
- Take measures to prevent the flow of cold air into basements and crawl spaces. Make sure that basement vents are closed and windows and doors create a tight seal. Repair broken glass in basement windows and seal cracks in basement and crawl space masonry walls.
- Protect water meter
- If the water meter is outdoors, make sure that the meter pit lid is not broken or missing. If the lid is loose, tighten it. If an indoor meter is located in an unheated area, it needs to be protected with an insulated box. Mark the box to ensure that your meter reader can locate it easily.
- Locate water shut off valve
- It is important to know where the primary shut off valve for your plumbing is located and how it operates. If the house does not contain a water shut off valve, consider having one installed.
