DAVENPORT, Iowa, Jan. 22, 2026/ PRNewswire/– Winter season is here, and Iowa American Water advises consumers to prepare their home pipes and water meter from the subzero temperature levels with basic suggestions to assist prevent expensive repair work and undesirable tension from frozen pipelines.
” It is essential that consumers take actions to secure their pipelines from freezing as winter season techniques and temperature levels progressively drop,” stated Tony Loete, Iowa American Water Vice President of Operations. “Requiring time to prepare and routinely examining your pipelines throughout exceptionally cold days will assist guarantee you and your enjoyed ones remain safe and comfy and prevent unexpected pipes repair work and residential or commercial property damage.”
To prepare now, consumers must:
- Know how to shut down your water: Find your primary water shut-off valve. In lots of homes, it lies near the water meter or near to where the pipes gets in the home. Hang an I.D. tag on the valve so it can be discovered rapidly throughout an emergency situation. Download a tag to print here: https://amwater.com/corp/Customers-and-Communities/Wise-Water-Use/cold-weather-protection
- Evaluate your primary water shut-off valve: When situated, evaluate the shut-off valve by closing it. When totally closed, inspect sinks and other water components to guarantee the shut-off valve is working correctly.
- Ball valves typically just need a quarter turn to close.
- Gate valves are typically nearby turning the manage clockwise and must turn quickly.
- If the valve does not close quickly, it might require to be serviced.
- Bonus Offer: While you exist, inspect your inbound water service line product! Iowa American Water is dealing with consumers to determine their service line product. If they are discovered to be made from lead or galvanized steel, they will be changed in the future. Go to https://www.amwater.com/iaaw/Water-Quality/Lead-and-Drinking-Water/ for details and simple 3-step guidelines.
- Get rid of sources of cold air near water lines: Look for pipelines in locations that may be vulnerable to freezing, such as crawl areas, unheated spaces, basements, garages, and outside walls. Repair breezy windows, insulate walls around pipelines and plug drafts around doors.
- Safeguard your pipelines: Where pipelines are exposed to cold, cover them with insulation or heat tape (even material or paper can assist).
When temperature levels remain listed below freezing:
- Provide pipelines an assisting hand: If pipelines go through cabinets or vanities, unlock to let warmer space temperature levels circulation in.
- Keep water moving through the pipelines: Permit a little drip of water to run. The expense of the additional water is normally lower than the expense of fixing a damaged pipeline.
If pipelines freeze:
- Turn off the water instantly: Do not try to thaw pipelines without switching off the primary water shut-off valve.
- Defrost a frozen pipeline by warming the air around it: Utilize a hair clothes dryer, area heating unit or warm water. Do not leave area heating units ignored and prevent utilizing kerosene heating units or open flames.
- When pipelines are defrosted: Gradually turn the water back on. Examine pipelines and joints for any fractures or leakages possibly brought on by freezing.
When consumers are far from home, think about the following:
- Set your thermostat a minimum of 65 degrees to avoid freezing.
- Have a pal, relative or next-door neighbor routinely inspect the residential or commercial property to assist guarantee the heat is working and the pipelines have actually not frozen.
- Think about acquiring a freeze alarm. The alarm will call a user-selected telephone number if the within temperature level drops listed below 45 degrees.
Discover winter security suggestions here: https://www.amwater.com/iaaw/Water-Wastewater-Information/cold-weather-protection. Find out more about Iowa American Water here.
About American Water
American Water (NYSE: AWK) is the biggest regulated water and wastewater energy business in the United States With a history going back to 1886, We Keep Life Flowing ® by supplying safe, tidy, reputable and budget friendly drinking water and wastewater services to more than 14 million individuals with managed operations in 14 states and on 18 military setups. American Water’s 6,700 skilled experts take advantage of their substantial proficiency and the business’s nationwide size and scale to accomplish exceptional results for the advantage of consumers, workers, financiers and other stakeholders.
To find out more, visit amwater.com and sign up with American Water on LinkedIn, Facebook, X and Instagram.
About Iowa American Water
Iowa American Water, a subsidiary of American Water, is the biggest regulated water energy in the state, supplying safe, tidy, reputable and budget friendly water and wastewater services to around 227,000 individuals. To find out more, go to iowaamwater.com and follow Iowa American Water on Facebook, X and LinkedIn.
SOURCE American Water