Residents Offered Tips On Avoiding Frozen Pipes Forecasts Call For Lows Below Zero And Highs Around 15 Next Week

Jim Markley, Coeur d’Alene’s water department superintendent, wants to remind residents of a few tips to avoid frozen pipes.

Forecasts for Coeur d’Alene call for lows below zero and highs around 15 degrees for most of next week, said Larry Sossaman, a technician with the National Weather Service in Spokane.

Markley said the best thing that home owners can do - if they don’t have a basement - is to cover foundation vents.

“That’s the biggest thing you can do to keep pipes from freezing,” Markley said.

Second, residents should remove all outside hoses from spigots. Even frost-free spigots are not safe if they have hoses attached, he said.

Water in hoses can freeze, which can break pipes and cause flooding inside the house.

Also, if residents leave their homes for the holidays, they should have a neighbor or family member check the house periodically - especially if there is a power outage.

“If you leave some heat on, you shouldn’t have any problems,” he said.

Residents who find frozen pipes should not use a propane torch to thaw them, he said.

“It’s very bad to try to thaw it with an open flame. You could set fire to your house,” Markley said. “Use a hair dryer.”

If residents have questions, they should contact their local water provider.