NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) – Experts at Preferred Home Services, a plumbing company based in North Charleston, are urging families to take necessary steps to avoid a time-consuming issue that may cost up to thousands of dollars in repair.
Cold mornings are in the forecast which means taking extra safety steps at home can avoid potential disasters.
Dropping temperatures can take a toll on indoor plumbing systems. Weather impacts can lead to freezing water pipes overnight and cause devastating flooding in mere hours.
Plumbing supervisor Clint Lankford at Preferred Home Services says the most important step is shutting off the home water line at the valve or the meter. He says turning off the water is crucial before an emergency happens as water can run unnoticed for hours.
“I’ve watched an entire probably a 20-to-30-foot run inside of an attic split the entire way down,” Lankford says. “And it unthawed around lunchtime and it ran for probably about five hours, causing the entire home to be damaged.”
Lankford says residents can call a local plumber or fire department as well as use online resources for help.
Lankford says running water does not freeze. In that case, he recommends dripping hot water through the furthest faucet from the main water line helps keep pipes warm. The running hot water moves through the entire water system which protects the pipes from potential cracks from cold temperatures.
Covering exposed pipelines and opening cabinet doors also helps keep pipes warm and protected. Lankford suggests using pipe installations, rags or hose bib covers to protect lines from wind and temperatures.
Space Heater Safety
Fire officials are also warning residents to be safe when warming the home during winter weather.
Central Berkeley Fire and Rescue officials are urging families to take precautions before pulling out their space heaters.
Central Berkeley Fire and Rescue crews have responded to two home fires linked to space heaters within the last 30 days. Assistant Chief Colt Roy of the department calls those fires total losses, but the real culprit is not the portable heater itself.
The assistant chief says the real issues are extension cords, power strips and radiating heat setting fire to nearby household objects.
Space heaters come in a variety of power ranges with some going up to 1500 watts. Roy says families need to plug heaters directly into walls to avoid fires from undersized extension cords.
Household items such as drapes, furniture and laundry can overheat if too close to space heaters. Roy recommends removing items at least 3 feet away from heaters as well as ensuring there is tip over protection. Tip over protection allows heaters to automatically shut off when knocked over. The assistant chief urges to double-check on the feature for households with pets.
Smoke alarms are critically important to protect families from emergencies. Roy urges families to make sure fire alarms are installed and working. He says carbon monoxide detectors are especially critical for homes with furnaces and fireplaces.
Many fire departments offer services for free smoke detectors and installation.
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