City of Oelwein recently issued the following announcement.
As beautiful as winter in Iowa can be, those chilly temperatures aren't always pipe-friendly. Frozen pipes cause a series of inconvenient and expensive problems. Lack of running water due to a frozen pipe interferes with daily routine like washing dishes or showering. The second issue is the potential of burst pipes and water flood damage. There are a handful of tips to AVOID frozen pipes in your home or office.
1. Prepapration is Key: Know where your water shutoff is located in case a pipe bursts. A temporary patch kit is helpful to have at hand to seal off burst pipes while you wait for a plumber or more permanent repair.
2. Turn UP your thermostat: We all worry about our heating bills but keeping the temperature too low in your home may increase your risk of frozen pipes. Temperature control is increasingly important if your home is built over an uninsulated crawl space.
3. Use a Space Heater: Keep unprotected pipes above freezing by placing a space heater near them.
4. Protect Exterior Faucets: To protect these faucets around your foundation, cover them with insulated foam covers and turn off the water supply in colder temperatures.
5. Be minful of your garage: Keeping it closed during the winter months will help control your pipe's temperature.
6. DON'T let your faucets drip to "Prevent" Frozen water lines: This can actually allow the drainpipe to freeze in many circumstances.
Original source can be found here.
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