Freeze Precautions

Prevent frozen water lines

  • While the winter temperature for Benton averages above freezing, there are occasions when the temperature drops below freezing. With freezing temperatures there is a good chance that unprotected water pipes will freeze. When this happens, you may experience only the annoyance of interrupted water service until the water in the pipes thaw. Unfortunately, for a few, the water line may rupture and cause property damage and require plumbing repairs.
  • You would probably like to know how to avoid this problem. There are several preventive measures that can reduce your chances of having your water lines freeze.
  • Shut off the outside water valve, disconnect water hoses and drain water from pipes, via an open faucet.
  • Allow a trickle of hot and cold water to drip. The cost of the wasted water is small compared to the damage from frozen pipes. CAUTION: Be certain you are not running water into a drain line that is exposed to extreme cold as that line might freeze as well.
  • Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors under sinks to allow heat from the room to circulate around un-insulated pipes.
  • Heat unused rooms containing plumbing; especially if the plumbing is in a north wall.
  • Insulate all pipes in areas where there is no heat, such as the garage or crawl space. Apply heat tape or thermostat-controlled heat cables around pipes that are exposed to the weather and prone to freeze. You can purchase a variety of insulating and heating devices to install on both inside and outside plumbing. Check with your local plumbing supplier for details.
  • Seal any air leaks around doors and windows to reduce cold air penetration.
  • If you have a problem and need our assistance, please call us at 501-776-5930 anytime. We can shut the water off in the event of an emergency to prevent further damage and to allow necessary repairs. 

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