Mayor Kraham Urges Residents to Protect Against Frozen Pipes Ahead of 'Arctic Blast'

(BINGHAMTON, N.Y.)—Mayor Jared M. Kraham on Sunday urged residents to take measures to prevent frozen pipes, with temperatures forecasted to drop early this week.

Mayor Kraham said: "With forecasters calling for Arctic air moving into the area early this week, I'm reminding residents to be proactive about preventing frozen pipes in their homes and businesses. A handful of simple steps can protect against the costly property damage and headaches that can happen when pipes freeze."

Pipes in unheated interior areas, like basements, crawl spaces, attics, garages or kitchen cabinets, are among those most at risk of freezing. Pipes running against exterior walls with little or no insulation can also freeze frequently.

The American Red Cross offers the following tips to prevent frozen pipes:

• 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.
• When the weather is very cold outside, let the cold water drip from the 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. 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, set to a temperature no lower than 55° F.

For more information, residents can visit redcross.org or contact the City of Binghamton's Department of Public Works Dispatch at (607) 772-7020.