New Year Expected to Bring Frigid Temperatures
Take Precautions to Protect Pets and Property
December 29, 2017
While the winter season in Tallahassee has been mild, the National Weather Service (NWS) is calling for significantly cooler temperatures as we ring in the new year. Beginning on Monday, January 1, 2018, weather experts expect temperatures to drop well below freezing. The current weather pattern for next week is expected to be in the upper-20s at night and the mid-40s during the day. The City of Tallahassee urges citizens to take precautions ahead of this impending cold snap.
To avoid water pipes breaking due to frigid air, utility customers are advised to run at least one faucet in their home or business at a thin stream. This allows water to flow through the pipes and lowers the risk of broken water lines during freezing conditions. Unlike other liquids, water expands when it freezes. When water pipes freeze, the expanding water can break the pipe, and customers can be left with a thoroughly soaked house when the pipes thaw.
When freezing temperatures loom, citizens might see water trickling out of spigots in area parks and public spaces. This is part of the City’s Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs (PRNA) department cold-weather plan to prevent or minimize issues caused by the cold. Signs should be posted nearby when this occurs, but if you see water running lightly from a pipe when arctic air threatens, please do not turn it off. This is intentional.
During periods of colder weather, City Utilities, as well as local plumbing contractors, typically receive calls from customers reporting broken water pipes. When pipes break between the water meter and the home or within the home, the customer is responsible for repairs. City Utilities repairs any damage to pipes between the water main under the street and the meter, or in the main itself, which rarely happens since water runs continuously in the mains.
The City offers these additional tips during a hard freeze – about 30 degrees (F) or below for more than one hour.
- Insulate all outside pipes with cloth or a similar material to help prevent freezing. All piping in attics, including those to water heaters, should be protected as well.
- Check to make sure the cover to your water meter fits tightly. If your pipes do freeze, you can use the valve inside the meter box to shut off all the water to the house, helping to prevent indoor flooding when pipes thaw.
- If you have a backflow assembly on your water service line, it, too, may freeze with very cold temperatures. Insulate the assembly properly by wrapping or covering the pipe. Do not cover the bottom relief opening on the underside at the middle of the apparatus to avoid creating other flooding problems.
- Commercial water customers should also wrap any fire lines in their buildings. Disconnect any outside water hoses from spigots, as water trapped inside can freeze and crack the hose.
- The Tallahassee Fire Department advises residents to be extra careful when using supplemental heating units. Make sure all combustible materials, such as drapes or chairs, are at least three feet away from any heating unit.
- To reduce the chance of fire, avoid using flammable liquids to start fireplaces and do not leave a fireplace unattended. Most importantly, check your smoke alarm to make sure it is working properly.
- If you are cold outside, your pet is, too. Tallahassee Animal Services recommends bringing outside pets indoors during cold snaps, especially at night when temperatures dip to their lowest.
- The Tallahassee Police Department recommends that you check in on neighbors and family members who may be more susceptible to cold weather conditions, such as the elderly or disabled. If you are unable to reach them, TPD will conduct a welfare check for you. Simply call the Consolidated Dispatch Agency at 606-5800 to request the service.
The City of Tallahassee wants to ensure all residents know what to do when the forecast calls for a hard freeze or other inclement weather conditions. Customers can call 891-4YOU (4968) for utility service needs.
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