Credit: Erich Martin/Levittownnow.com
The below-freezing temperatures are causing headaches for the Lower Bucks County Joint Municipal Authority (LBCJMA) and keeping area fire companies busy.
On Thursday, LBCJMA responded to at least two water line breaks in its service area, which covers parts of Bristol Township, Falls, Middletown and Tullytown, according to LBCJMA Director Vijay Rajput.
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LBCJMA crews are keeping busy with water line breaks caused by ground freezing and also making sure ice does not build up at its facilities that process water used in Levittown, Rajput said.
Fire companies from Falls to Langhorne are also busy dealing with weather-related calls.
In Falls, Fire Marshal Rich Dippolito said his office has responded to roughly six calls related to frozen or burst pipes. The story in Middletown is similar with crews responding to more than a dozen similar calls for service, Fire Marshal Jim McGuire said. Bristol Township has been lucky, according Fire Marshal Kevin Dippolito, whose department has not responded to any calls similar to those in nearby communities.
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The recent snow storms also created an uptick in response calls for local fire companies.
Rajput said he expects his work crews to respond to more water line bursts in the coming weeks as winter drags on. This year, the LBCJMA has handled about 25 breaks, compared to roughly 40 last year.
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“We’ve gone to seven or eight with the cold in the past week,” he said.
As forecasters call for more cold weather, Rajput said residents have been appreciative to the crews who have repaired broken water lines in the bitter temperatures.
Some Red Cross tips for the cold weather:
During Cold Weather, Take Preventative Action
- Keep garage doors closed if there are water supply lines in the garage.
- Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing. Be sure to move any harmful cleaners and household chemicals up out of the reach of children.
- When the weather is very cold outside, let the cold water drip from the faucet served by exposed pipes. Running water through the pipe – even at a trickle – helps prevent pipes from freezing.
- Keep the thermostat set to the same temperature both during the day and at night. By temporarily suspending the use of lower nighttime temperatures, you may incur a higher heating bill, but you can prevent a much more costly repair job if pipes freeze and burst.
- If you will be going away during cold weather, leave the heat on in your home, set to a temperature no lower than 55° F.
To Thaw Frozen Pipes
- If you turn on a faucet and only a trickle comes out, suspect a frozen pipe. Likely places for frozen pipes include against exterior walls or where your water service enters your home through the foundation.
- Keep the faucet open. As you treat the frozen pipe and the frozen area begins to melt, water will begin to flow through the frozen area. Running water through the pipe will help melt ice in the pipe.
- Apply heat to the section of pipe using an electric heating pad wrapped around the pipe, an electric hair dryer, a portable space heater (kept away from flammable materials), or by wrapping pipes with towels soaked in hot water. Do not use a blowtorch, kerosene or propane heater, charcoal stove, or other open flame device.
- Apply heat until full water pressure is restored. If you are unable to locate the frozen area, if the frozen area is not accessible, or if you can not thaw the pipe, call a licensed plumber.
- Check all other faucets in your home to find out if you have additional frozen pipes. If one pipe freezes, others may freeze, too.
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