Broken water pipes could continue to be an issue with upcoming cold weather

The forecast for South Lake Tahoe over the next seven days calls for cold temperatures, winds and several inches of snow, a recipe for an increased risk of broken pipes in homes and businesses in the area.

Last week, both a private home on Saddle Road and the Boys and Girls Club of Lake Tahoe suffered through broken pipes, a scene that the SLT Fire Rescue Department sees about two dozen times a year. Over the last seven years, SLTFR has responded to 168 calls for broken water pipes. Local plumbers have responded to hundreds of others as well.

Even though the forecast lows of single digits have been revised to lows in the teens, the risk of frozen pipes still remains and there are several steps residents can take to prevent breaking.

The home on Saddle Road is a vacation home, with the owners leaving the heat off when not at the home. This habit is not advised and homes should remain at a minimum of 55 degrees. For those homeowners not living full time in South Lake Tahoe, remote access to thermostats with devices such as a NEST are helpful. With these items one can monitor the home's temperature from their cell phone or computer.

A burst pipe can cost the homeowner an average of $5,000 in damage and repair costs.

The American Red Cross recommends the following steps to prevent pipes from bursting:

- Keep garage doors closed if there are water supply lines in the garage.
- Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing. (If you have small children, be sure to remove any harmful cleaners and household chemicals.)
- Let the cold water drip from a faucet served by exposed pipes. Running water through the pipe—even at a trickle—helps prevent pipes from freezing.
- Keep the thermostat set to the same temperature both during the day and at night.
- For the long term, add insulation to attics, basements and crawl spaces. Insulation will maintain higher temperatures in those areas.

SLTFR responds to burst pipes and are trained in water emergencies, but they don't want people to go through unnecessary expenses to repair and replace what's left behind. Fixes in the short term can prevent costly repairs in the long term.

If you do experience frozen pipes, here are some tips on how to thaw them:

If you turn on a faucet and only a trickle comes out, suspect a frozen pipe. Likely places for frozen pipes include those against exterior walls or where your water service enters your home through the foundation. If the water is still running, you can take the following steps but if you suspect a more serious problem, call a plumber.

- Keep the faucet open. As you treat the frozen pipe and the frozen area begins to melt, water will begin to flow through the frozen area. Running water through the pipe will help melt ice in the pipe.
- Apply heat to the section of pipe using an electric heating pad wrapped around the pipe, an electric hair dryer, a portable space heater (kept away from flammable materials), or by wrapping pipes with towels soaked in hot water. Do not use a blowtorch, kerosene or propane heater, charcoal stove, or other open flame device.
= Apply heat until full water pressure is restored. Check all other faucets in your home to find out if you have additional frozen pipes. If one pipe freezes, others may freeze, too.

If you are unable to locate the frozen area, if the frozen area is not accessible, or if you can not thaw the pipe, call a licensed plumber.