As temperatures dip into the single digits in Wisconsin, officials are cautioning people to act immediately to prevent their pipes from freezing or bursting.
The risk of pipe damage increases significantly when temperatures drop below freezing, said Patrick Pauly, superintendent of Milwaukee Water Works, in a Monday news release.
“Preventative steps taken now can save you the expense and challenge of dealing with frozen pipes or a burst water meter,” Pauly said.
Here’s how to best protect your pipes this winter:
Tips to prevent your pipes from freezing
There are a few immediate steps you can take to protect your home, according to MWW:
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Keep your basement warm: Ensure your basement is properly heated or insulated. Pipes nearest to a wall, door, window or along the floor are likeliest to freeze.
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Run water occasionally: Allow a small trickle of water to flow through your pipes regularly, since flowing water often breaks up ice freezing below.
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Eliminate cold drafts: Close doors and window to outside, and install storm windows or add insulation to basement windows. Turn off water connections to your garden hose at an inside valve and drain the exposed piping.
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Wrap pipes: Wrap pipes in insulation or heat tape, or place a light bulb near pipes to provide warmth (though make sure to avoid open flames indoors). Open the door to the room with the pipes to allow warmth to circulate, and if your kitchen or bathroom sink is located against an outside wall, insulate the wall. Open the cabinet door below the sink so warm air can reach the pipes.
What to do if your pipes freeze
If no water comes from your faucets when you turn them on, your pipes are frozen.
You can contact your water service provider to report frozen pipes or a frozen water meter, which is often located in the basement.
Here are some steps you can take yourself to repair the issue:
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Open a faucet near the frozen pipe to release any vapor from the melting ice. Keep the faucet open, so you’ll know when the water is flowing again.
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Begin warming the pipes using a hairdryer. Start with the pipe nearest the faucet and work toward the frozen section. Do not leave the hairdryer unattended or let it overheat, and do not use a blowtorch or open flame to warm pipes.
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Once water has begun to flow again, let a pencil-sized stream of water flow through the faucet until normal heating is restored.
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Eliminate cold breezes and allow warm air to flow around the pipes to prevent freezing again.
What to do if a water main breaks
If you notice water surfacing or if your water pressure drops, then your water main could be broken. In this case, you can report the break to the city.
What to do if you lose heat
If you lose heat at any point during the winter, let your water run occasionally at a low trickle to minimize risk of frozen pipes. If you have to leave your house due to lack of heat, shut off your water service at the meter.
This article originally appeared on Fond du Lac Reporter: How to prevent pipes from freezing or bursting in Wisconsin