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As the chilly weather sets in, Veolia reminds customers that now is the perfect time to take steps to prevent their water meter, pipes, plumbing and appliances from freezing this winter.
“The cost to repair broken plumbing is higher than ever,” said Chris Graziano, Regional President of Veolia’s New York operations and chairperson of the New York Chapter of the National Association of Water Companies. “Winters can be hard on household plumbing, so it’s important to take some time to protect water meters and pipes from the freezing weather. Meters and plumbing located on outside walls, in basements, or in crawl spaces are particularly vulnerable to the cold.”
By following a few simple tips, homeowners can avoid costly repairs.
Outside the home:
- Disconnect and drain the garden hose connection.
- Close all outside vents, crawl spaces and doors so cold air doesn’t seep inside.
- Fix broken windows and seal cracks in the walls.
Inside the home:
- Wrap the meter and water lines subject to freezing in insulation or heat tape, which is available at hardware stores.
- Make sure the shutoff valves on either side of the water meter are working properly. Place a tag on the main shutoff valve. Make sure everyone knows where it is and how to use it during an emergency.
- Check the water meter periodically. Contact Veolia if you notice any damage.
- If you have had problems in the past, you may want to keep a trickle of water running from the highest faucet during frigid weather. You will be billed for the water used, but this may help prevent costly plumbing repairs that result from broken pipes.
If you won’t be home:
- If you’re going away for an extended period, keep a minimum amount of heat on in the house. This will help protect the pipes in case the temperature drops.
- If you plan to turn the heat off, drain all the water from the pipes, toilets and water heater, and turn off the power source to the water heater.
If the pipes freeze:
- If your pipes freeze, it’s important to clear blockages as soon as possible to minimize damage. It may be best to call a licensed plumber.
- If a water pipe has burst, turn off the water at the main shutoff valve in the house.
- Open a nearby faucet slightly so the pipe can drain as it thaws.
- Do not use electrical appliances in areas of standing water.
- Never use hot water or a blowtorch on a frozen pipe or water meter.
ABOUT VEOLIA NORTH AMERICA
A subsidiary of Veolia Group, Veolia North America (VNA) offers a full spectrum of water, waste and energy management services, including water and wastewater treatment, commercial and hazardous waste collection and disposal, energy consulting and resource recovery. VNA helps commercial, industrial, healthcare, higher education and municipality customers throughout North America. Headquartered in Boston, Mass., Veolia North America has more than 10,000 employees working at more than 350 locations across the continent. www.veolianorthamerica.com
ABOUT VEOLIA GROUP
Veolia's ambition is to become the benchmark company for ecological transformation. With nearly 218,000 employees on five continents, the Group designs and deploys useful, practical solutions for managing water, waste and energy that help to radically change the world. Through its three complementary activities, Veolia contributes to developing access to resources, preserving available resources and renewing them. In 2023, the Veolia group served 113 million people with drinking water and 103 million with wastewater services, produced 42 terawatt-hours of energy and recovered 63 million metric tons of waste. Veolia Environnement (Paris Euronext: VIE) generated consolidated sales of €45.3 billion in 2023. www.veolia.com
Veolia is committed to addressing the effects of climate change on water and wastewater service. To learn more about our Barometer of Ecological Transformation Survey, visit: https://www.veolianorthamerica.com/barometer-2024
