Missouri American reminds customers to prepare homes for bitter cold

Joplin, MO. (Jan. 4, 2022) – With temperatures dipping below freezing during overnight hours for much of the week, Missouri American Water is reminding homeowners to take steps to prevent frozen pipes.  Following these tips can protect home plumbing to prevent costly repairs and higher water bills. 

Be prepared:

• Know how to shut off water. Most homes have a shut-off valve. Customers can also look for shut-off valves on faucets. 
• Identify the home’s freezing points. Check for pipes in areas prone to freezing, such as crawl spaces, basements, unheated rooms, garages, and exterior walls. 
• Protect pipes. Pipes in the locations listed above can be wrapped with heat tape or insulation.  Using fabric or newspaper can also help. 
• Check sprinkler or irrigation system.  Make sure it is turned off and fully drained.

“These tips can protect our customers from costly repairs and from sharp increases in monthly water bills during the winter,” said Matthew Barnhart, senior operations manager. 

When temperatures stay below freezing customers are advised to:

• Leave doors open on cabinets and vanities to expose pipes to warmer air.
• Keep water moving through pipes to allow a small trickle of water to run.  At a cost of about a penny per gallon, cost of the extra water is often less expensive than that of repairing a broken pipe. Water can also be recaptured for watering indoor plants and other uses. 

When customers are away from home, they should:

• Have a friend, relative or neighbor regularly check their property to ensure the heat is working and the pipes have not frozen.
• Consider purchasing a freeze alarm. The alarm will call a user-selected phone number if the inside temperature drops below 45 degrees. 

Missouri American Water also encourages customers to update their Missouri American Water account contact information to receive important water service information should their service be impacted at any time. Customers can manage their account online at missouriamwater.com.