HomeMy Public PortalAboutTOL NR 2019-01-18 Frozen Water Pipe Prevention
Town of Leesburg
News Release
For Immediate Release
January 18, 2019
Media Contact:
Leah Kosin, Public Information Assistant
lkosin@leesburgva.gov 703-771-2781
Leesburg Utilities Department Offers Tips to Prevent Frozen
Water Pipes
Below-freezing temperatures forecasted for Sunday, January 20, 2019.
Leesburg, VA (January 18, 2019) – Below-freezing temperatures are forecasted for the Town of
Leesburg beginning Sunday, January 20. Sustained below-freezing temperatures can cause
damage to home plumbing systems.
As a precaution, the Leesburg Department of Utilities offers the following tips to prevent frozen
pipes:
Be sure pipes in unheated parts of your home, including crawl spaces, are insulated.
Remove hoses from outside faucets and be sure they are drained and shut off.
Advise all household members where the main shut-off valve is located in case of an
emergency.
If you will be away from home for an extended time, shut off the water supply and drain
the system. Keep thermostat set at 55 degrees.
During extended periods of below-freezing temperatures:
Open doors to any cabinets with water supply lines, such as under kitchen and
bathroom sinks, to allow warm air to circulate.
Keep a trickle of water running from the faucet highest in the house. This trickle should
be a steady stream the size of the lead in a pencil.
If your pipes freeze, never thaw a pipe with an open flame or a space heater. A hair
dryer can be used if there is no standing water in the area.
If there is no water throughout your house and you have determined that it is not a frozen line
within the home, your water meter may be frozen. Please contact Leesburg Department of
Utilities at 703-771-2750 (Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) or the Leesburg
Police Department non-emergency number at 703-771-4500 outside of regular business hours
for assistance.
# # #