Keeping Your Water Flowing During Freezing Temps

Oskaloosa, Iowa – Arctic cold like that being experienced right now can freeze and break water lines in your home.

Chad Coon with the Oskaloosa Water Department shared some information to help prevent waterline freezing. “Keep cabinet doors below your sink areas open to allow warm air to circulate around the lines. If you know that you have cracks in your basement foundation, do what you can to try to minimize any cold air coming in and blowing on your water lines. Another thing that can be done is to turn a faucet that is susceptible to freezing on a little bit to let water run through it. Lines that have water running through them take a lot longer to freeze than lines that sit idle. For mobile homes, or even some modular homes that do not sit on a foundation, make sure that your heat tape is not only plugged in, but make sure it is working.”

Coon went on to say, “Homeowners are responsible for ensuring that their meters do not freeze. If they do freeze we will get them fixed, but they will be charged accordingly for the repair.”

“If they suddenly lose water pressure, they need to check the other fixtures in their hose making sure that the problem in not just located at one sink. After that, call their neighbors and ask them if they are experiencing the same thing. If the neighbors are not experiencing the same thing, chances are the water line in their home has frozen up and it is not a water main issue. If their neighbors are experiencing the same thing, call the water department and let us know so we can send someone out to see what is going on,” Coon explained.

If you see a water leak, call the Oskaloosa Water Department at 641.673.8476.