Prepare Now to Avert Frozen Pipe Damage This Winter, Advises Pennsylvania American Water

With winter around the corner and freezing temperatures starting to arrive, Pennsylvania American Water today reminded residents that cold air can cause pipes to freeze and burst, potentially causing flooding and severe water damage.

To illustrate precautions that homeowners can take to prevent frozen pipe damage, the company posted a brief video on YouTube at http://youtu.be/5tIxfG_iJo0.

“We encourage homeowners to take precautionary measures now before the very cold weather sets in, so that you can prevent frozen water pipes and costly repairs, as well as save water and energy,” said William Kelvington, vice president of operations for Pennsylvania American Water.

Pennsylvania American Water also offers the following tips to get your home ready for winter:

• Search for pipes that are not insulated or that pass through unheated spaces, such as crawlspaces, basements or garages. Wrap them with pre-molded foam rubber sleeves or fiberglass insulation, available at hardware stores.
• Before freezing weather sets in, make sure the water to your hose bibs is shut off inside your house (via a turnoff valve), and that lines are drained.
• Nearly 15 percent of an average home energy bill goes to heating water. Wrapping your water heater in an insulation blanket can help reduce heat loss.
• To save wear and tear on your cooling system, drain any hoses and air conditioner pipes and check for excess water pooled in equipment. If your home is heated by a hot-water radiator, bleed the valves by opening them slightly. Close them when water appears.
• Add extra insulation to the attic to prevent warm air from creeping into your roof, causing ice damage to the roof and gutters.
• Keep water temperature around 120 degrees and install inexpensive low-flow showerheads to reduce hot water use. Lowering the temperature to 120 degrees would reduce water heating costs by 6 to 10 percent.
• Clean out gutters and downspouts to remove debris that could freeze and cause clogs during cold weather. Know where your water main is located in case you need to turn it off during an emergency.

You can find additional winter weather tips at www.pennsylvaniaamwater.com under the About Us tab and selecting the Customer Communications link.

Pennsylvania American Water, a wholly owned subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water and/or wastewater services to approximately 2.2 million people. Founded in 1886, American Water is the largest publicly traded U.S. water and wastewater utility company. With headquarters in Voorhees, N.J., the company employs more than 7,000 dedicated professionals who provide drinking water, wastewater and other related services to approximately 15 million people in more than 30 states, as well as parts of Canada. More information can be found by visiting www.amwater.com.

In 2011, American Water is celebrating its 125th anniversary with a yearlong campaign to promote water efficiency and the importance of protecting water from source to tap. To learn more, visit www.amwater125.com.