As the winter season approaches, the Northern Kentucky Water District is reminding people to take action to prevent frozen and burst pipes.
The types of pipes that freeze most frequently are those that are exposed to severe cold, like outdoor hose bibs, swimming pool supply lines and water sprinkler lines, according to an announcement from the water district. Water supply lines in unheated interior areas (such as basements, crawl spaces, attics, garages or kitchen cabinets) and pipes that run against exterior walls with little to no insulation are also at risk.
The water district is recommending a variety of measures to prevent freezing pipes, such as draining water from outdoor lines, shoring up household insulation, keeping garage doors closed and allowing water to trickle through faucets in the event of a temperature drop.
“No matter the strength of a plastic or metal pipe, freezing water expansion creates a tremendous amount of pressure that can cause pipes to break,” according to the water district. “The Northern Kentucky Water District (NKWD) wants to help you prevent these types of breaks that can cause substantial damage.”
You can find a full tip sheet on preventing and addressing frozen pipes at the Northern Kentucky Water District’s civic announcement page.