The One to Count On...

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As the weather continues to get cold, protecting your pipes from freezing is important. Building and Zoning Official and former plumber Steve Donnelly says stopping air infiltration in your basement or to water lines will prevent them from freezing. Donnelly says you can use insulation or expandable foam to stop the air and he also recommends keeping heat around the pipe. He also says by letting water run slowly through the pipe does help in preventing it from bursting. Donnelly notes if your pipes should become frozen to never use an open flame to thaw them out and take the risk of a fire, but to use a hair dryer instead. He says if your pipes should burst, try and turn off the main water valve if you can and call a plumber to fix it correctly.