Holliston February 2018

Page 22 Holliston Local Town Pages www.localtownpages.com February 2018
Preventing and Dealing with Frozen Pipes
State Fire Marshal Peter J.
Ostroskey said, “This bitter cold
weather brings the risk of frozen
pipes. As difficult as that situation
is, it is important not to make a
bad situation worse; many people
cause fires trying to thaw frozen
pipes.”
Tips for Preventing
Frozen Pipes
• When the weather is very
cold outside, let the water
drip from the faucet served
by exposed pipes. Running
water through the pipe –
even at a trickle – helps
prevent pipes from freezing,
because the temperature of
the water running through it
is above freezing.
• Open kitchen and bathroom
cabinet doors to
allow warmer air to circulate
around the plumbing.
Be sure to move any harmful
cleaners and household
chemicals up out of the
reach of children.
• Keep the thermostat set to
the same temperature both
during the day and at night.
By temporarily suspending
the use of lower nighttime
temperatures, you may incur
a higher heating bill, but you
can prevent a much more
costly repair job if pipes
freeze and burst.
• If you will be going away
during cold weather, leave
the heat on in your home or
business set to a temperature
no lower than 55ºF.
• Shut off outside water.
Protect Sprinklers
Systems
In order to protect sprinkler
systems, check on your building
during to the cold snap, especially
if you don’t have a low
temperature alarm. Make sure
that all portions of the building
remain heated to at least 40°F
and not exposed to freezing conditions.
Setting the thermostat
higher -50-60 °F during this cold
snap will help make sure pipes in
concealed areas stay warm.
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Call Lori Koller (508) 934-9608
To Thaw Frozen Pipes
• If you turn on a faucet and
only a trickle comes out, suspect
a frozen pipe. Locate
the area of the water pipe
that might be frozen. Likely
places include pipes running
against exterior walls or
where your water service enters
your home through the
foundation.
• 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 more ice
in the pipe.
• Apply heat to the section of
pipe using an electric heating
pad wrapped around the
pipe, an electric hair dryer, or
wrapping pipes with towels
soaked in hot water. Do not
use a blowtorch, kerosene
or propane heater, charcoal
stove, or other open flame
devices. A blowtorch can
make water in a frozen pipe
boil and cause the pipe to
explode. All open flames in
homes present a serious fire
danger, as well as a severe risk
of exposure to lethal carbon
monoxide.
• Apply heat until full water
pressure is restored. If you
are unable to locate the frozen
area, if the frozen area
is not accessible, or if you
cannot thaw the pipe, call a
licensed plumber.
• Check all other faucets in
your home to find out if you
have additional frozen pipes.
If one pipe freezes, others
may freeze, too.
• Be careful using space heaters
to warm up areas near
pipes. Don’t overload circuits.
Try not to use extension
cords but if you must,
make sure they are rated for
the appliance. Heat producing
appliances need stronger
extension cords than lamps.
• Remember not to leave the
door of a gas oven open; it
will produce large amounts
of carbon monoxide.
• Be sure there are working
smoke and carbon monoxide
alarms on every level of the
home.
Milford Community School
Use Program to Offer
“Sell Your Home” Seminar
The Milford Community
School Use Adult Education
Program will be presenting
an informative seminar called
“Sell Your Home: Strategies
for Success.” The program
is one night only and will be
moderated by local real estate
agent David Hodgdon
of Millennium Realty. Topics
will include preparing to
move, how to get organized
and declutter, what repairs to
make, how to hire a real estate
agent, tips for selling and
buying at the same time, and
what to expect during the
selling process.
Pam Ahern of the home
organization company Stuff
Organized Simply will be
on-hand to discuss how to
prepare for the big move.
She will be talking about
decluttering and organizing,
as well as tips for efficient
packing. Lee Abdella of
Walsh Home Inspections will
lead a discussion about the
home inspection process and
what items you can expect
to be examined so you can
get those repairs out of the
way before potential buyers
even step foot in your home.
David Hodgdon will talk
about what questions to ask a
potential real estate agent so
you are getting the best agent
to help you reach your goals.
He will also review the process
of selling the home. All
three experts will be available
for questions following the
presentation.
The seminar will take
place at 7 pm on Tuesday,
February 27 in Room A-14
at Milford High School located
at 31 Fountain Street in
Milford, MA. Refreshments
will be available. There is no
charge for this event, however
space is limited to just
thirty participants who must
register on the Milford Community
School Use Program
website:
http://mcs.milford.
ma.us/adult-programs/winter/
For more information or
for assistance with registration,
contact David Hodgdon
at (508) 246-8311.