(Kansas City, Mo.) – Bitter cold and Sub-Zero temperatures are on the way to the Kansas City Metro area. With this Artic blast, KC Water wants to remind residents its a good time to look around your home to ensure your pipes are prepared. Every year, freezing weather leads to frozen and broken pipes.
“When pipes freeze, the most important thing to know is the location of your shut-off valve inside your basement. If a pipe freezes and bursts, turn that valve off immediately to stop the flow of water,” said Bill White, Operations Officer for KC Water.
The following steps can be helpful in keeping your pipes safe during the cold snap:
- Wrap exposed pipe with insulation or heating tape.
- Stop frigid air from blowing on water pipes. Be on the lookout for broken windows or open doors in basements.
- Never use an open flame to thaw out frozen pipes.
- Insulate water lines that are against outside walls.
- Keep cabinet doors open to allow heat from rooms to warm pipes.
- Leave a small stream of water running from faucet to keep water moving inside pipes.
“No matter how cold it gets people just need to protect their lines from the cold” added White.
In the instance that a water pipe breaks, and the shut-off valve does not work, please call KC Water immediately to request an emergency shut-off. KC Water crews are available seven days a week, at 311 (816-513-1313).
For more information contact Jackson Overstreet, KC Water Public Information Officer, at Media@KCMO.org, cell: 816-799-3276.
You can also watch a video detailing this information here:
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KC Water maintains and operates water treatment and distribution systems, stormwater management systems, and wastewater collection and treatment systems for residential and business customers in Kansas City and for wholesale customers in the Kansas City area. KC Water is primarily funded by fees charged to customers based on their use or impacts on the three utility systems.
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